Zulu Wood Figurative Spoon, Based

Nearly black, impossibly thin, and still reaching for the ceiling.

This figurative spoon was carved by Zulu artisans of South Africa in wood in the 20th century. Spoons of this kind are commonly linked to feasting and to the prestige of the household that used them. A small round bowl crowns a long, narrow stem that swells briefly into a carved figure and then runs on to a pointed foot. The surface is a deep brown black with a soft polish. It rests on a small square metal base.

About 58 inches tall. A line drawing in wood. Mind the light fixtures.