African Arts Gallery

Traditional African Chokwe art and ceremonial objects.
This ceremonial spoon formed of a deep bowl presents at the top the figure of the wife of the mythical hero founder of the ethnic group, Chibinda Ilunga. A shiny smooth patina, once due to the repeated application of castor oil and coloring vegetable decoctions, covers the whole of this piece of African Chokwe art. Erosions on the face.
Height on base: 42 cm.
Peacefully settled in eastern Angola until the 16th century, the Chokwé were then subjected to the Lunda empire from which they inherited a new hierarchical system and the sacredness of power. The Chokwé did not have centralized power but large chiefdoms. They were the ones who attracted artists wishing to put their know-how at the exclusive service of the court. The artists created so many varied pieces and of such quality that the Lunda court only employed them.