spoons gallery
ANK 1219-3 Lega ’Kalukili’ Ivory Spoon, Dem. Rep. Congo. This antique, elegant and almost gracefully crafted spoon is carved from elephant (loxodonta africana) ivory and evokes the stylized “Kalukili” character. It has a beautiful patina and it shows signs of age, wear, and natural abrasion. This striking ivory spoon, supported by a finely crafted handle … Continue reading Lega Spoon
HCK 0619-1 SOLD Dan Ceremonial ‘wake mia’ Spoon with Carved Dual ‘Janus’ Face, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. This beautiful wooden spoon decorated with two female faces on handle derives from the artists in Dan communities of the Guinea coast who have mastered the art of carving impressive, large wooden spoons that are virtuoso works of … Continue reading Dan Spoon
HCK 1015-03 SOLD Lega Ivory Spoon, Kalukili, Zaïre (DR Congo) L: 16,5 cm (6,5”) W: 3 cm (1,2”), weight: 50 gram Carved from elephant ( loxodonta africana ) ivory, partly dark patinated, min. dam., slight traces of usage. This spoon has anthropomorphic form with an openwork abstract body and lanceolate head. It is exceptionally … Continue reading Lega Spoon
MCK 1099-2A Spoon H: 29 cm (11,4″) W: 13 cm (5,1″)
Spoon H: 35 cm (13,8″), W: 8,5 cm (3,3″)
LCK 0604-8 Kwere Spoon, Tanzania H: 30,5 cm (12″), W: 6 cm (2,4″) Spoons like this are given by the women of the society to the most hospitable, talented and popular woman in society and acts as a sort of ‘challenge cup’ with a new illustrious owner year to year. African spoons symbolize social … Continue reading Kwere Spoon
SNK 1212-40 Dan Ceremonial Spoon, Liberia Pregnant woman as handle H: 49 cm (19,3″), W: 10,5 cm (4,1″), D: 7 cm (2,8″) Large ceremonial ladles are carved to honor a particular Dan woman from each village quarter who has distinguished herself among her fellow women by generosity and hospitality. The ladles had spiritual power … Continue reading Dan Spoon
LCK 0604-5b Ceremonial Spoon, Kwere, Tanzania Wood H: 51 cm (19,5″) Spoons like this are given by the women of the society to the most hospitable, talented and popular woman in society and acts as a sort of ‘challenge cup’ with a new illustrious owner year to year. African spoons symbolize social values such … Continue reading Ceremonial Spoon
LCK 0604-5A Ceremonial Spoon, Kwere, Tanzania Wood H: 48,5 cm (18,5″) Spoons like this are given by the women of the society to the most hospitable, talented and popular woman in society and acts as a sort of ‘challenge cup’ with a new illustrious owner year to year. African spoons symbolize social values such … Continue reading Ceremonial Spoon
PKK 0607-1 Zulu Spoon, South Africa L: 31,5 cm (12,4″) Provenance: From a Danish collection. In Zulu custom, a little food or drink was spilled or “fed” to the ancestors. Because of this religious significance, utensils and containers were not spiritually neutral. Zulu spoons are subtly figurative. The bowl of the spoon is like … Continue reading Zulu Spoon
HCK 9509/4 Zulu Spoon Like many other African domestic objects, some spoons are aesthetically enhanced and exceed the function that is commonly assigned to them. In the south-eastern regions of Africa such elaboration is generally non-figurative and integrated into the form of the object. Spoons embody many complex associations relating to ownership and are … Continue reading Zulu Spoon
CAK 9901 Zulu Ladle Spoon, South Africa Age: Early 20th century. Like many other African domestic objects, some spoons are aesthetically enhanced and exceed the function that is commonly assigned to them. In the south-eastern regions of Africa such elaboration is generally non-figurative and integrated into the form of the object. Spoons embody many complex … Continue reading Zulu Spoon
ASK 0610-6 Gold Dust Spoon, Senufo, Ivory Coast L: 11,5 cm (4,5”), W: 4,5 cm (1,8”) Brass This fine old gold spoon was used to weigh gold dust or to ‘measure’ the amount of gold dust in small containers. Value and the amount of gold dust was then payed for a product or a … Continue reading Senufo Spoon
SNK 1212-41 – SOLD Mbole Spoon, DR Congo H: 21 cm (8,3″), W: 3,7 cm (1,5″), D: 4 cm (1,6″) This fine spoon shaped as a human figure is most likely carved by the mbole people in D.R. Congo. The Mbole are known for their figures called ofika which are characterized by their geometric … Continue reading Mbole Spoon
NAK 0610-2 Mossi Spoon, Burkina Faso L: 27 cm (10,6″), W: 5 cm (2″)
SNK 1212-36 Kamba (Kampa) spoon, Kenya H: 38 cm (15″), W: 5,5 cm (2,2″) Light brown wood This fine and well carved spoon is from the Kamba tribe, also called the Akamba, which is a Bantu ethnic group residing in the semi – arid Eastern Province of Kenya. Their homeland stretches east from Nairobi … Continue reading Kamba Spoon
NIK 0106-08 Dan Spoon, Ivory Coast H: 54 cm (21,3″) W: 12 cm (4,7″) The Dan is famous for their beautiful sculpted large wooden spoons, a genre unknown in other style regions of Africa. The spoons are about 40 – 75 cm long, having one or rarely two parallel bowls, and a handle with … Continue reading Dan Spoon
HCK 0106-12 Kulango Spoon Sculpture, Ivory Coast This ‘spoon’ differs in its style and artistic expression from traditional African spoons. Its design transcends the purely utilitarian nature of many other examples. Presented on a pedestal, it is a wonderful, elegant shape. The shape is characterized by having two functions. Spoon at one end … Continue reading Kulango Spoon
HCK 0106-6 – SOLD Anthropomorphic Dan Spoon (“Wunkirle Feast Ladle”), Ivory Coast H: 68 cm (26,8″), W: 15,5 cm (6,1″) This superbly rendered spoon shows signs of great age with its patina, dark brown and layered blackened surface and rounded forms. This level of sophistication as a work of great abstract sculpture is rare in … Continue reading Dan Spoon
