Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: A ceremonial chalk spoon with a head at the end of the handle.
The mutual offering or giving of cola nuts or of pieces of white chalk has a special, even ritualistic and sacred meaning among the Ibo in Southeast Nigeria. Special, elaborate lidded boxes are manufactured in wood for the ‘life-giving’ cola nuts. Special chalk spoons, mostly decorated with heads or figures, are employed for the white chalk used for body painting in ceremonies, for colouring objects or ritual floor marking. The present, old chalk spoon made of wood still clearly displays traces of white chalk in its deep, round ladle. At the end of the long handle with round cross section is a carefully crafted head with crested coiffure. The eyes consist of applied circular copper discs. The entire item is carved from a single piece of light brown wood and was originally dyed black and brown. This is a practical utensil, but rare to find in collections. It displays overall very good, old, partially shiny usage patina and only minor age damage (on the nose and scuffed colours). First third of the 20th century; L: 28.5 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Henseler gallery, Munich; Viennese private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
24.03.2014 - 16:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 1,000.- to EUR 1,200.-
Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: A ceremonial chalk spoon with a head at the end of the handle.
The mutual offering or giving of cola nuts or of pieces of white chalk has a special, even ritualistic and sacred meaning among the Ibo in Southeast Nigeria. Special, elaborate lidded boxes are manufactured in wood for the ‘life-giving’ cola nuts. Special chalk spoons, mostly decorated with heads or figures, are employed for the white chalk used for body painting in ceremonies, for colouring objects or ritual floor marking. The present, old chalk spoon made of wood still clearly displays traces of white chalk in its deep, round ladle. At the end of the long handle with round cross section is a carefully crafted head with crested coiffure. The eyes consist of applied circular copper discs. The entire item is carved from a single piece of light brown wood and was originally dyed black and brown. This is a practical utensil, but rare to find in collections. It displays overall very good, old, partially shiny usage patina and only minor age damage (on the nose and scuffed colours). First third of the 20th century; L: 28.5 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Henseler gallery, Munich; Viennese private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 24.03.2014 - 16:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 18.03. - 24.03.2014 |