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Feast Ladle (Wunkermian)

Arts of Africa

Hospitality is an important virtue in many African societies. Among the Dan, the woman with the greatest reputation for hospitality is known as a wunkerle. On public occasions, she carries a spoon known as a wunkermian as a staff of office.
CULTURE Dan
MEDIUM Wood, metal
  • Place Made: Liberia
  • DATES late 19th-early 20th century
    DIMENSIONS 22 7/16 x 5 3/8 x 6 1/2 in. (57 x 13.7 x 16.5 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
    ACCESSION NUMBER 67.209.1
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wiesenberger
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Carved handle in shape of face and neck. Face has typical Dan features: vertical scarification mark at forehead, crescent eyebrows, slit eyes, partially opened mouth with teeth exposed. Three metal studs at forehead. Headdress with 3 flat projecting elements and below vertically incised raised and depressed areas. Thick, slightly rounded neck. Bowl approx. 2/3 of carving, the back of which has incised and relief carving in lozenge and parallelogram shapes. Condition: very good.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Dan. Feast Ladle (Wunkermian), late 19th-early 20th century. Wood, metal, 22 7/16 x 5 3/8 x 6 1/2 in. (57 x 13.7 x 16.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wiesenberger, 67.209.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 67.209.1_threequarter_PS2.jpg)
    IMAGE threequarter, 67.209.1_threequarter_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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