A Dan Prestige Spoon, "mèvuochlümia" Lot n° 29

Prestige spoon, "mèvuochlümia". Dan, Côte d'Ivoire Ohne Sockel / without base Wood. H 48 cm. Provenance: - Gallery Walu, Zurich. - Swiss private collection, Schwyz. Prestige spoon whose handle ends in a head shape ("mèvuochlümia" = "spoon with human face"). The spoon is the material manifestation of an auxiliary spirit for high-ranking host women, who symbolically distributed food with it on the occasion of festivities, ritually dancing. On the occasion of the harvest time between November and February numerous, festivities lasting several days, to which every villager contributed what he could. After various events and dance performances, the women prepared the final feast, at the beginning of which they paraded with their elaborately and delicately decorated rice spoons and bowls. Further reading: Fischer, Eberhard / Himmelheber, Hans (1976). The Art of Dan. Zurich: Museum Rietberg. CHF 400 / 800 EUR 400 / 800