When looking at the images on this page, you may think there is a mistake with the heading "pillows", but illustrated below are hard Chinese and Japanese pillows, the complete opposite of what we expect in a pillow today.

This style of pillow was in use from about the 6th century to the end of the 19th century, although the pillows on this page are from the later period. They were designed to keep the neck and head in vertical alignment with the spine, as with present day pillows, but without the head comfort of the soft pillows we use today.

The most common shape was a brick with an inverted top, but other whimsical shapes included a recumbent child lying on his stomachs, where the curved back was the head rest, cats crouching also using the back as the head rest, and mythical animals.

Most pillows are porcelain; less more...

65 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A famille-rose 'peacock' pillow, 19th century, 38.5 x 16  x 10…

A famille-rose 'peacock' pillow, 19th century, 38.5 x 16 x 10 cm

Chinese porcelain opium pillow, decorated in combination of…

Chinese Opium Pillow with Underglaze Blue Decoration

Chinese porcelain opium pillow, decorated in combination of underglaze blue geometric and dual floral frieze, hand painted produce and figural design with script signature marks. 15 x 6 x 6 cm

A collection of Chinese blue and white porcelain, comprising a…

Chinese blue and white porcelain collection

A collection of Chinese blue and white porcelain, comprising a lidded jar, three graduated ginger jars and a rectangular pillow. Height of pillow 16 cm. Provenance: Contents of Swanton, Sutton Forest

An antique Chinese blue and white porcelain headrest, 19th/20th…

Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Headrest, 19th/20th Century

An antique Chinese blue and white porcelain headrest, 19th/20th century, 13 cm high

An antique Chinese blue and white porcelain headrest, 19th/20th…

Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Headrest - 19th/20th Century

An antique Chinese blue and white porcelain headrest, 19th/20th century, 13 cm high

Chinese Cizhou pillow, Qing Dynasty, length 20 cm, Restoration…

Restored Qing Dynasty Cizhou Pillow, 20cm Length

Chinese Cizhou pillow, Qing Dynasty, length 20 cm, Restoration to base corner

An antique Chinese blue and white porcelain headrest, Qing…

Blue and White Chinese Porcelain Headrest, Qing Dynasty

An antique Chinese blue and white porcelain headrest, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th century, underglaze blue four character mark to base, 14 cm high

Chinese 'Pillow' form lidded wooden box painted decoration,…

Chinese Painted Wooden Box with Brass Accents

Chinese 'Pillow' form lidded wooden box painted decoration, brass clasp and handles, length 32 cm.

Pair of Chinese porcelain pillows, decorated with reserves…

Chinese Porcelain Pillows with Bird and Lotus Decoration

Pair of Chinese porcelain pillows, decorated with reserves birds amongst flowering trees, surrounded by incised lotus flowers in tones of pink, yellow on turquoise, a/f, length 13 cm (2)

A rare pair of Chinese Cizhou boy pillows, Ming Dynasty…

Rare Ming Dynasty Chinese Cizhou Boy Pillows

A rare pair of Chinese Cizhou boy pillows, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) each pillow is decorated with a humoristic face, ruyi pendant, armlet and plaits tied together above the ears; it is thickly covered in a creamy white glaze with an ivory tone; the…

A pair of early 20th century Japanese Meiji geisha pillows, red…

Meiji Geisha Pillows in Lacquered Box

A pair of early 20th century Japanese Meiji geisha pillows, red lacquered tapered box form bases with black cloud type highlights, the red silk cylinder pillows with covers. In original black lacquer fitted box. Pillow length 21 cm.

A Chinese Brown-glazed porcelain pillow, height 11.5 cm, 22 cm…

Chinese Brown-glazed Porcelain Pillow (11.5 cm)

A Chinese Brown-glazed porcelain pillow, height 11.5 cm, 22 cm x 12 cm

Three Chinese ceramic pillows each with hand painted decoration,…

Set of Three Hand-Painted Chinese Ceramic Pillows

Three Chinese ceramic pillows each with hand painted decoration, length 14 cm each.

Chinese white glaze porcelain pillow, of waisted rectangular…

Chinese White Porcelain Pillow with Incised Floral Motifs

Chinese white glaze porcelain pillow, of waisted rectangular form, decorated to each side with incised floral motifs, incised character marks to both ends, height 11.5 cm and width 18 cm

A Chinese famille rose porcelain pillow, oblong, decorated with…

Famille Rose Porcelain Pillow with Exotic Birds and Wisteria

A Chinese famille rose porcelain pillow, oblong, decorated with exotic birds amongst rose and prunus bushes to the main panels, racemes of wisteria to the sides. Probably Tongzhi or Republic Period. 12.5 x 6 x 15 cm

Two Chinese Qing Dynasty porcelain pillows, of rectangular form,…

Pair of Qing Dynasty Porcelain Pillows with Women Scenes

Two Chinese Qing Dynasty porcelain pillows, of rectangular form, each decorated with women in interior scenes, accented with geometric borders, in tones of blue, purple, yellow and green, a/f, height 14.5 cm (2)

Delightful Qing Dynasty, 18th century pillow, in the form of a…

Qing Dynasty Elephant Pillow

Delightful Qing Dynasty, 18th century pillow, in the form of a reclining elephant, in stoneware, thickly glaz. Provenance: Ex Peter Kuring and Jerry vest collection acquired 1980, then private collection Exeter, Southern Highlands. Private Collection…

Chinese blue & white porcelain pillow with figural and dragon…

Dragon & Figural Decorated Chinese Porcelain Pillow

Chinese blue & white porcelain pillow with figural and dragon decoration, height 14 cm

Chinese blue and white porcelain pillow, with a rectangular…

Blue and White Dragon Pillow with Pond Scenes

Chinese blue and white porcelain pillow, with a rectangular concave top, decorated with dragon amongst cloud scrolls, above pond scenes, length 34.5 cm

A pair of Chinese blue and white printed ceramic pillows.…

Chinese Blue and White Ceramic Pillows

A pair of Chinese blue and white printed ceramic pillows. Height 14.5 cm

An antique porcelain pillow, Qing Dynasty, probably 19th…

Qing Dynasty Porcelain Pillow with Floral Decoration

An antique porcelain pillow, Qing Dynasty, probably 19th century, the traditionally shaped and moulded pillow with curved neck rest and extended ends, freely decorated with flora and peaches in underglaze blue, light green and maroon colours, height 12 cm…

A Chinese ceramic pillow with sgrafitto decoration, 18th/19th…

Chinese Sgrafitto Ceramic Pillow, 18th/19th Century

A Chinese ceramic pillow with sgrafitto decoration, 18th/19th century, 28 cm across

Delightful Qing Dynasty, 18th century pillow, in the form of a…

Aubergine Glazed Elephant Pillow from Qing Dynasty

Delightful Qing Dynasty, 18th century pillow, in the form of a reclining elephant, in stoneware, thickly glazed in aubergine tones, the interior glazed with pale green glaze, on a fitted wooden stand, length 30 cm, height 15 cm (without stand height).…

A Chinese porcelain opium pillow, 19th century, 12 cm high, 15.…

Chinese Opium Pillow, 19th Century

A Chinese porcelain opium pillow, 19th century, 12 cm high, 15.5 cm wide, 6 cm deep

Chinese carved hard stone lidded pillow form carved dragon and…

Carved Hard Stone Pillow with Dragon and Fish Decoration

Chinese carved hard stone lidded pillow form carved dragon and fish decoration, with carved character mark to side, length 22 cm, height 9 cm.

A Japanese porcelain pillow painted with cranes flying toward…

Japanese Crane Porcelain Pillow, 1961

A Japanese porcelain pillow painted with cranes flying toward the sun as the lavender-grey clouds descend, incised signature and dated 1961, the tunnel-shape painted and incised at each end length 29 cm, height 8 cm

Chinese ceramic pillow with Qing markings featuring a gentleman…

Qing Ceramic Pillow with Gentleman and Child Among Trees

Chinese ceramic pillow with Qing markings featuring a gentleman and child among trees, with script. Condition: Good/Fair, some wear mostly to edge, 34 cm, width 24 cm D6 cm

Chinese decorated ceramic pillow phoenix and peony decoration…

Chinese Phoenix and Peony Ceramic Pillow

Chinese decorated ceramic pillow phoenix and peony decoration on green glazed cartouche, length 34 cm

An antique Chinese blue and white porcelain Pillow, of…

Chinese Dragon Pillow

An antique Chinese blue and white porcelain Pillow, of traditional brick type and decorated with a dragon flying through clouds to the top, flowers and water fowl to the long and short sides, height 13 cm, length 34.5 cm, width 14 cm

A pair of Chinese porcelain Pillows with peony and golden…

Chinese Porcelain Pillows with Peony and Pheasants, 1735

A pair of Chinese porcelain Pillows with peony and golden pheasants, with poems on each narrow side, a cyclical date thirteen years of Yongzheng period, 1735, length 33 cm

A Chinese porcelain Pillow, the wave shape with scrolling vine…

Chinese Dragon Pillow with Money Symbols

A Chinese porcelain Pillow, the wave shape with scrolling vine and curled dragons, an open money symbol at each end, condition: restoration to one corner, length 34 cm, width 15 cm

A pair of Chinese porcelain Pillows with character Fu and Shou,…

Chinese Porcelain Pillows with Fu and Shou Characters

A pair of Chinese porcelain Pillows with character Fu and Shou, Happiness and Longevity, length 21 cm

A Chinese porcelain Pillow, a long rectangular curved shape…

Chinese Porcelain Pillow (8 words)

A Chinese porcelain Pillow, a long rectangular curved shape with open ends, length 32 cm

Two Chinese porcelain Pillows, late Qing Dynasty, the blue and…

Chinese Porcelain Pillows with Blue and White Designs

Two Chinese porcelain Pillows, late Qing Dynasty, the blue and white head rests with a carved open money symbol, one decorated with lion dogs the other with a densely flowering garden [2]. Provenance: The collection of a retired airline executive, height…

Rare Chinese porcelain book form Pillow, rectangular porcelain…

Chinese Book Form Porcelain Pillow

Rare Chinese porcelain book form Pillow, rectangular porcelain pillow in the form of a bound Chinese set of books, decorated in tones blue, yellow and pink,

A Chinese blue and white porcelain Pillow, with pierced money…

Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Pillow with Money Symbol

A Chinese blue and white porcelain Pillow, with pierced money symbol, late 19th century, 15 x 13 x 7 cm

A Chinese white porcelain Pillow, in the form of a sleeping…

Chinese Sleeping Baby Porcelain Pillow

A Chinese white porcelain Pillow, in the form of a sleeping baby boy Lying on his Stomach, 20th century, the features clearly delineated and clothes picked out. Provenance: The collection of a retired airline executive, length 18 cm

Chinese porcelain pillow, decorated with three ladies, 13.5 x…

Three Ladies Porcelain Pillow

Chinese porcelain pillow, decorated with three ladies, 13.5 x 11.5 x 6 cm

A Chinese Blanche de Chin ceramic Pillow, 20th century,…

Chinese Ceramic Boy Pillow, 20th Century

A Chinese Blanche de Chin ceramic Pillow, 20th century, modelled in the form of a recumbent boy. 19 x 28 cm.

A Chinese green glazed earthenware Pillow, 20th century, the…

Chinese Green Glazed Earthenware Boy Pillow

A Chinese green glazed earthenware Pillow, 20th century, the headrest in the form of a young boy lying on his stomach with feet kicked out, length 22 cm

A Chinese famille rose pillow, late Qing dynasty, painted with…

Famille Rose Pillow with Leisurely Garden Scenes

A Chinese famille rose pillow, late Qing dynasty, painted with beautiful ladies at leisure in fenced gardens, height 12 cm

Chinese handpainted porcelain pillow

Handpainted Chinese Porcelain Pillow

Chinese handpainted porcelain pillow

A Cizhou style tiger Pillow, modelled in a crouching position,…

Cizhou-style Crouching Tiger Pillow - 8cm x 17cm

A Cizhou style tiger Pillow, modelled in a crouching position, 8 cm high, 17 cm wide

A 19th century Chinese porcelain Pillow, Qing Dynasty featuring…

Qing Dynasty Tiger Porcelain Pillow - 19th Century

A 19th century Chinese porcelain Pillow, Qing Dynasty featuring a recumbent tiger, used by physicians to check patients pulse, 15 cm high

A Chinese blue and white ceramic Pillow in the form of a boy.…

Chinese Blue and White Ceramic Boy Pillow

A Chinese blue and white ceramic Pillow in the form of a boy. Height 23 cm. Length 34 cm

A Chinese porcelain Pillow. 6 cm x 13.7 cm

Chinese Porcelain Pillow - Miniature Size

A Chinese porcelain Pillow. 6 cm x 13.7 cm

A Chinese square porcelain famille rose pillow, Daoguang period…

Daoguang Period Chinese Porcelain Pillow

A Chinese square porcelain famille rose pillow, Daoguang period (1821-1850). 31.5 high, 19.5wide, 13.3 cm deep

Chinese Republic period cat form porcelain headrest. Painted…

Chinese Republic Cat Porcelain Headrest

Chinese Republic period cat form porcelain headrest. Painted decoration. Wax seal to base. Height 15 cm

Chinese porcelain pillow, 16 cm long approx

Chinese Porcelain Pillow - 16cm Length

Chinese porcelain pillow, 16 cm long approx

A pair of Chinese porcelain opium Den Pillows, Qing Dynasty and…

Chinese Opium Den Pillows

A pair of Chinese porcelain opium Den Pillows, Qing Dynasty and after, 19th to 20th century, of typical brick form with coin style piercings to one end and open to the reverse, decorated in underglaze blue decoration, the older pillow with sporting lion…

A collection of Chinese blue and white porcelain comprising a…

Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Collection (7 pieces)

A collection of Chinese blue and white porcelain comprising a 'kneeling boy' pillow, a lidded canister, 4 various boxes and covers and a powder box (7) (7)

Chinese porcelain Pillow. Green decoration on black ground. 6…

Green and Black Chinese Porcelain Pillow with Seal Mark

Chinese porcelain Pillow. Green decoration on black ground. 6 character seal mark. Length 43 cm

Chinese Huanghuali pillow, of bread loaf form slightly concave…

Huanghuali Guilian Pillow - 28.4cm

Chinese Huanghuali pillow, of bread loaf form slightly concave round form with attractive Guilian grains 28.4 cm long

Two Chinese porcelain boy pillows, 20th century

Chinese Porcelain Boy Pillows (20th Century)

Two Chinese porcelain boy pillows, 20th century

A Japanese blue and white pillow, 14 cm wide, circa 1900 and…

Japanese Blue and White Pillow and Cups Set

A Japanese blue and white pillow, 14 cm wide, circa 1900 and two small cups

A Chinese Yaozhou ceramic pillow in the form of a sleeping…

Yaozhou Ceramic Sleeping Attendant Pillow

A Chinese Yaozhou ceramic pillow in the form of a sleeping attendant on a platform holding a large leaf incised with four quadrants of flowers 16.5 cm long x 13 cm deep, 13 cm high

Famille rose porcelain pillow, 6-sided decoration. 6.5 in wide…

6-Sided Famille Rose Porcelain Pillow

Famille rose porcelain pillow, 6-sided decoration. 6.5 in wide x 5 in high/16 cm wide, 12 cm high

Antique Chinese porcelain angled pillow, famille rose…

Antique Chinese Angled Pillow with Famille Rose Decoration

Antique Chinese porcelain angled pillow, famille rose decoration, 19th century, 6-sided decoration. 8.5 in wide x 6 in high/21 cm wide, 15 cm high. Purcahsed, Lammert Bros, Auctioneers, Hong Kong, 15/1/74

A Chinese qianjiangcai pillow, Late Qing dynasty or Republic…

Chinese Qianjiangcai Pillow, Late Qing/Republic Period

A Chinese qianjiangcai pillow, Late Qing dynasty or Republic period, the four sides each painted with a reclining lady in a garden, by a window, or in a study, all between two borders of diaper ground, one end with a Begonia-blossom-shaped opening, the…

A Chinese ceramic Pillow, mid 20th century, brick shaped with…

Chinese Ceramic Pillow with Quatrefoil Panels

A Chinese ceramic Pillow, mid 20th century, brick shaped with air perforations at either end, iron red overall with two quatrefoil panels, one featuring a woman admiring her pet bird; the other, a contemplative woman on a balcony beneath the shade of a…

Chinese pottery pillow, in the form of a child, hand painted…

Hand-Painted Chinese Child Pottery Pillow

Chinese pottery pillow, in the form of a child, hand painted decoration, 27 cm wide approx.

Chinese pillow and a vase with under glazed blue marquetry.…

Blue Marquetry Pillow and Vases Set

Chinese pillow and a vase with under glazed blue marquetry. Together with a similar vase. 28 cm high, 28 cm long.

Two Chinese blanc de chine porcelain pillows. Republic period,…

Pair of Chinese Blanc de Chine Porcelain Pillows

Two Chinese blanc de chine porcelain pillows. Republic period, one modelled of a child the other with moulded decoration. 19 cm high. 10 cm high.

Chinese pottery pillow, hand painted decoration, 24 cm long

Hand-Painted Chinese Pottery Pillow (24cm)

Chinese pottery pillow, hand painted decoration, 24 cm long