Ceremonial spoon "wa ke mia" or "wunkirmian" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3050330

Description

wood,

Spoons “wunkirmian” are awarded as a symbol of honour and status to women who have achieved the title of a “wunkirle” or “wakede”. This title denotes the most “hospitable” woman in a village.

One of her tasks is to prepare great feasts. To do this, she must be a good farmer and produce bountiful harvests, have good cooking skills and great organisational talent.

Each woman wishes to outshine her competitors to acquire the title of wakede (“queen of the feast”). When the victor is designated, “wakemia” becomes her trophy, which she proudly presents.

These spoons are not only prestige objects and status symbols, but also bearers of spiritual powers.

The object Ceremonial spoon “wa ke mia” or “wunkirmian” with the object ID 3050330 was last part of the auction 101st Auction at November 11, 2023 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 223.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.