Spoon · D. R. Congo, Lega · ID: 3037828
Description
ivory, partly dark patinated, min. dam., slight traces of usage;
ivory spoons seem to emphasize continuity, perhaps through reference to feeding and growth. Older men who are high-level members of “bwami” eat with an ivory spoon, reminding those watching of their status and value to the community. Spoons are also used in circumcision rites. Men place an ivory spoon in the mouth of a young boy for him to bite on during his circumcision.
The object Spoon with the object ID 3037828 was last part of the auction 78th tribal art auction at October 18, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 449.
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Comparing literature
Winizki, Ernst, Afrikanische Löffel, Zürich 1990, ill. 66