Ceremonial Ladle (Wunkirmian or Wakemia)
Unknown Artist
possibly late 1800s or early 1900s
Medium
Wood, twine, and possibly resin
Dimensions
56.8 × 11.2 × 7 cm · base: 0.6 × 13.7 × 10.5 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
African Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Severance and Greta Millikin Trust
Accession Number
2013.52
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
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.