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Ceremonial Ladle (Wunkirmian or Wakemia)

possibly late 1800s or early 1900s

The Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States

An emblem of great prestige, this human-shaped ladle would have been owned by a distinguished married woman recognized for her talents as a farmer and her exceptional generosity and hospitality. One of her responsibilities was to host a grand Feast of Merit when she, along with other highly respected women, prepared food for a large number of local and foreign guests. During the feast the women danced brandishing their rice-filled ladles while singing in strident voices.

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  • Title: Ceremonial Ladle (Wunkirmian or Wakemia)
  • Date Created: possibly late 1800s or early 1900s
  • Physical Dimensions: Overall: 56.8 x 11.2 x 7 cm (22 3/8 x 4 7/16 x 2 3/4 in.)
  • Provenance: Pierre-Paul Grassé by field-collection (inv. P.P.G.5), Grassé family, by descent, (Christie's, Paris, France, "African and Oceanic Art," Sale 3553 Lot 94, June 19, 2013, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Type: Sculpture
  • Rights: CC0
  • External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/2013.52
  • Medium: Wood, twine, and possibly resin
  • Fun Fact: This ladle was a status symbol for a notable woman.
  • Department: African Art
  • Culture: Africa, West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Dan carver
  • Credit Line: Severance and Greta Millikin Trust
  • Collection: African Art
  • Accession Number: 2013.52
The Cleveland Museum of Art

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