Feast Ladle (Wunkermian)
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Object Label
Hospitality is an important virtue in African societies. Among the Dan, the woman with the greatest reputation for hospitality is known as a wunkirle. On public occasions, she carries as a staff of office a spoon known as a wunkirmian. The large bowl of the spoon suggests the ample quantities of rice she has given away. The ram's head commonly denotes power among the Dan, but it may also refer to the use of rams as sacrifices at the feasts over which a wunkirle presides.
Caption
Dan. Feast Ladle (Wunkermian), early 20th century. Wood, copper alloy, fiber, 22 3/8 x 5 x 5 in. (56.8 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Blake Robinson, 1998.80.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.80.4_SL1.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Feast Ladle (Wunkermian)
Date
early 20th century
Geography
Place made: Liberia
Medium
Wood, copper alloy, fiber
Classification
Dimensions
22 3/8 x 5 x 5 in. (56.8 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Blake Robinson
Accession Number
1998.80.4
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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