Anthropomorphic Spoon, Ivory Coast

Late 19th – early 20th century

Carved wood

(on a base)

A rare traditional spoon carved from a single piece of wood, featuring a long cylindrical handle connecting a deep bowl to a remarkable anthropomorphic head.

The top of the handle is carved with a stylized face featuring half-closed eyes, a straight nose, and a subtly modeled mouth. The ears are slightly protruding, while the head is crowned with a tall headdress or a crenellated crown formed of large, evenly spaced protrusions. This composition gives the piece a strong sculptural presence and reflects the aesthetic care devoted to these prestigious objects.

The spoon bowl, elongated and oval in shape, features a deep cavity indicative of long-term use. The piece retains a beautiful dark brown patina, glossy in places, revealing extensive handling and an age that is perfectly consistent with its history.

In Côte d’Ivoire, carved spoons went far beyond their utilitarian function. They were often objects of prestige associated with important figures or ceremonial uses, with some being offered as tokens of hospitality, generosity, or gratitude. The richness of their carving reflected the talent of local workshops and the symbolic importance attached to these objects within the various Ivorian cultures. Anthropomorphic spoons are now among the most sought-after examples of traditional Ivorian sculpture.

Provenance

Former collection of Giovanni Franco Scanzi, an Italian art collector and humanitarian, a prominent figure in the Rotary Club in West Africa, who assembled a significant collection of ethnographic objects during his stays in Côte d’Ivoire.

Bibliography

See Giovanni Franco Scanzi, *Spoons of Côte d’Ivoire*, a reference work devoted to traditional Ivorian spoons, which includes reproductions of several comparable examples from his collection.