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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

82 - - Figurative spoon - Chokwe - Angola - Provenance: Former co…
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Estimate €100 - €200
Sale commission
Description
- Figurative spoon - Chokwe - Angola - Provenance: Former collection of Edmond Verfaillie (1892-1962), a prominent figure associated with the major Belgian companies operating in the Belgian Congo under Belgian state administration, notably Forminière and Union Minière. Kept by family descendants. This early provenance is part of a particularly coherent and well-documented collection. Dimensions: H. 36 cm - Materials: Wood Dimensions: H. 35 cm A prestigious spoon with a long cylindrical handle decorated with two finely-worked anthropomorphic faces. The main figure, placed under the end knob, has the idealised features often found in Chokwe art: half-closed almond-shaped eyes, a delicately drawn mouth and a serene face. A second, smaller head is carved at the junction of the handle and spoon, creating a balanced visual rhythm and emphasising the ceremonial nature of the object. The handle is punctuated by groups of incised rings that structure the composition and recall the scarification marks or body ornaments valued in the Chokwe aesthetic. The spoon is elongated and oval in shape, with deep wear on the inside showing that it has been used for a long time. Among the Chokwe, carved spoons of this type were more than simple domestic utensils. They were used for ceremonial meals, community celebrations and as prestige objects associated with high-ranking personalities. The quality of the carving, the presence of human effigies and the overall harmony of the proportions reflect the special status of their owner.
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About the sale ARTS OF AFRICA & OCEANIA: Three exceptional family collections
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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