Spoon

Baule, Côte d’Ivoire
19th-early 20th c

Provenance: Private French collection

This refined Baule wooden spoon transcends mere utility, embodying the elegance and sculptural sophistication for which the Baule are celebrated. The handle rises into a delicately modeled female head, its serene, elongated features and downcast eyes echoing the same aesthetics found in Baule figures and masks. An aged, encrusted patina enriches the surface, further heightening its presence and aura of long use.

The long, tapering shaft thrusts upward and outward into the carved head, creating a powerful sense of extension and lift. This dynamic interplay between vertical line and poised face lends the spoon an unexpected monumentality, transforming a vessel of daily use into an object of sculptural drama. More than a tool, such spoons symbolized generosity, prestige, and the honor of hosting. This example distills the Baule gift for harmony and proportion into a compact yet commanding form—bridging the everyday with the spiritual.