‘Amahs’ (Cantonese domestic servants) were frugal women who spent little on personal items. This ceramic pillow was one of the few possessions these women had in their sparsely furnished, tiny rented cubicles in Chinatown. Amahs largely resided in the homes of their employers, and returned to their cubicles only to check mail, visit other amahs, or if they were temporarily unemployed.
