Cuiller anthropomorphe, Dan/Bassa, Côte d'Ivoire / Liberia

Collection privée, ca. 1980

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Accomplissement remarquable de la notion de "cuiller-sculpture", cette œuvre se distingue par sa très rare représentation complète du corps féminin – la tête seule se fondant dans la forme abstraite du cuilleron élancé. Puisant dans un imaginaire surréaliste, elle traduit l’accord parfait entre l'œuvre et l'objet, entre la statuaire et le réceptacle. 

Insigne de dignité de la wunkirle – femme la plus hospitalière d'un village ou d'un quartier – la cuiller cérémonielle wa ke mia (fête agir cuiller) symbolise sa générosité et ses talents (Fischer et Himmelheber in Dapper, 1991, p. 73-88). Lors de la "fête du mérite", les élues de chaque quartier dansent en présentant leur cuiller remplie de riz et de pièces de monnaie, rivalisant dans l'expression de la générosité.

Identifiant la dignitaire à son insigne, elle personnifie la beauté dans toutes ses formes d'acception. Visuellement, elle traduit les critères fondamentaux de l'esthétique des Dan, à la fois dans les formes : fermeté de la pose parfaitement équilibrée, masses musculaires soulignées par la tension des galbes et dans le soin apporté à la parure : colliers, anneaux de chevilles et richesse des motifs tégumentaires couvrant le buste. Dotée d’une profonde patine attestant son ancienneté et son usage prolongé, son style la rattache aux Dan/Bassa vivant aux confins de la Côte d'Ivoire et du Liberia, d'où le célèbre sculpteur Zlan était originaire. 

Voir Dapper (1991, p. 85 et 86-87) pour deux autres cuillers de conception analogue.

Dan/Bassa anthropomorphic spoon, Ivory Coast/ Liberia

A beautiful specimen of the "spoon-sculpture" concept, this piece stands out as one of the - very rare - full representations of the female body, with the head alone blending into the shape of the slender spoon bowl. Drawing from a surrealistic inspiration, it strikes a perfect balance between the artwork and the object, between the statue and the receptacle. 

A mark of the dignity of the wunkirle - the most hospitable woman in a village or neighbourhood - the ceremonial wa ke mia spoon is a symbol of her generosity and her talents (Fischer and Himmelheber in Dapper, 1991, p. 73-88). During the "Celebration of merit", the chosen women from each neighbourhood dance and present their spoons filled with rice and coins, competing in their expression of generosity.

The dignitaries are assimilated to their symbolic badge of dignity, which personifies beauty in all its forms. Visually, it reflects the fundamental criteria of Dan aesthetics, both formally - poise of the perfectly balanced pose, muscles highlighted by the tension of the curves - and in the detailing of the adornments: necklaces, ankle bracelets and intricate integumental patterns covering the torso. Whilst its patina attests to its great age and prolonged use, its style links it to the Dan/Bassa, who live at the confines of Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia, where famous sculptor Zlan originally came from. 

See Dapper (1991, p. 85 and 86-87) for two other similarly designed spoons.