Spoon / ladle "orotuo" · Namibia, Herero · ID: 3050106
Christian Kennert, Potsdam, Germany
Description
wood, leather, rest.
A flattening on the underside and a small bulge on the handle ensure a stable stand for the “spoon vessel”.
The spoon was used to scoop milk.
Owning large herds of cattle played an important role among the Herero and was linked to ancestor worship. Leavened milk was a staple food of the Herero. Due to the ritual importance of the cattle, milk was originally only allowed to come into contact with wood.
The object Spoon / ladle “orotuo” with the object ID 3050106 was last part of the auction 101st Auction at November 11, 2023 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 358 achieved a sales price of EUR 400.
Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.
Comparing literature
Junge, Peter (Hg.), Kunst aus Afrika, Berlin 2005, p. 187
Publications
Kennert, Ch., "Vom Sammeln alter afrikanischer Holzgefässe", in: Kunst & Kontext, 06/2013, Schwabstedt, p. 31, ill. 1; Kennert, Ch., "Vom Holz zur Form", Potsdam 2018, p. 126, ill. 41