Headboards carved from hardwoods such as ebony and rosewood became fashionable among the Merina nobility in the early nineteenth century. The elder's bed was placed on pillars, high against a wall, and was only accessible by a ladder. Initially these boards were decorated with traditional geometric patterns in low-cut relief which is characteristic of the wooden carving of the highlands societies, particularly the Merina and Betsileo. The iconography on these headboards changed after the treaty signed in 1817 between the Merina monarchy (during the reign of Radama I) and the British Government (represented by the Governor of Mauritius). These carvings more often incorporated references to the influence of Europeans on daily life, such asthe British military uniforms with the distinctive shako hat, crinolenes worn by the noblewomen, and horses which were introduced amongst the Merina after 1817. The umbrella was widely recognised as a symbol of the nobility, along with the palanquin known as a 'filanjana'.

For a similar bed panel in the collection of Musée National des Arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie (71.25.16) in Paris, see Madagascar, The zebu as guide through past and present, The Netherlands, 1998, p.96, no.113. There are two other panels illustrated in Julius E Lips, The Savage hits back, London, 1937, p.90, figs.40-41.