Dan Anthropomorphic Ceremonial Ladle, Côte d'Ivoirewunkirmian or wakemia Height 16in (40.7cm)ProvenancePrivate Collection, New YorkThis is an elegant example of the majestic ladles carved by the Dan artists for women as emblems of honor and containers of spiritual power, with a gentle sway to the rounded neck resting on rounded buttocks and legs slightly bent at the knees and resting on flat feet with toes delineated; each thigh front decorated with an incised feather-like design, the back of the spoon surface decorated with an incised figure eight pattern within an oval boarder; fine varied light and dark brown glossy patina with encrustations on the interior spoon surface.