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MILLON
175
-
Beautiful cult spoon with stylised figures
Wood, old brown p…
See original version (French)
175
-
Beautiful cult spoon with stylised figures
Wood, old brown p…
See original version (French)
Estimate €400 - €700
Voluntary lot
Description
Beautiful cult spoon
with stylised figures
Wood, old brown patina, multicoloured trade beads, marks of use
Dan, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
39.9 × 10.3 cm
Among the Dan people, certain carved spoons were symbols of honour associated with women renowned for their hospitality, generosity and culinary skills. Presented at community ceremonies, they were used in particular during harvest festivals or ritual gatherings, when handfuls of rice could be thrown as a sign of blessing and abundance. These objects combined symbolic function, social prestige and an idealised representation of the feminine.
This spoon has a particularly accomplished design. The spoon is a natural extension of the face, stylised down to the essentials, while the body rests on powerful legs with a supple, balanced shape. The volumes of the thighs, knees and buttocks contribute to a composition of great plastic coherence, almost architectural. The overall effect is one of remarkable formal modernity, in which abstraction and figuration strike a balance of great restraint.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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