Mongo Wood Spoon, Democratic Republic of Congo

The inside of the bowl is tooled all over in fine hatching, like a field after the plow.

This spoon is Mongo, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood. Large serving spoons and ladles are found throughout the Congo basin, carved for the kitchen and the shared meal, and often handled for years. The broad, leaf-shaped bowl is shallow, with a raised lip around the rim and a pointed tip. A stubby flat handle projects from the far end. The wood is dark brown, with lighter wear along the edges. It is 8.5 inches wide, 2.5 deep and 20 high.

Built for serving, not for nibbling.