Mongo Wood Spoon, Democratic Republic of Congo

A pointed prow at one end, a stubby handle at the other, and room for a good deal in between.

This spoon is Mongo, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, dating to the 20th century, in wood. Across Central Africa, wooden spoons of generous size were carved for cooking and serving, and their shapes vary from village to village. This one has a long, narrow bowl that rises to a sharp point at the tip. The interior is smoothly hollowed, and the outside is rounded like a hull. The handle is short and squared, and the whole surface is a deep, even brown-black. It is 6.25 inches wide, 2.5 deep and 20.5 high.

Seaworthy, as kitchen tools go.