The two spoons on either side of the darker center example were discovered on a bessie mat in the Western Cape.  The mat collection had been abandoned to new owners in a home built in 1909 owned by the late R L Rothmond in Utrecht - Natal. The old beadwork and other curiosities date to the 1940's. The two spoons were very finely carved correctly in a traditional manner and are decorated with pokerwork. The center spoon is as old and was used in a traditional environment. It too has raised amasumpa decorations. The trio is offered as a set.

*

This early 20th century ladle was used to serve porridge and is a whopping 67 cms, or 26 inches long. 

Click Thumb for Larger Picture

The ladle displays notched "amasumpa" decoration.

Click Thumb for Larger Picture

The ladle also sports a phallic looking finial. Some say these were added as sexual metaphors, but that suggestion is no more then an academics wish to 'discover'. The phallic looking finial is no more than an invention which allows the spoon to be tied to a hut wall.  These large ladles were also called "Izinkezo or Ukhezo"

 

*

 

.

These spoons are offered as a pair. Both were carved exceptionally thin and have subsequently been repaired.

*

These two old Tsonga chain link ladles were rediscovered in England and likely date to 1900.

Though not connected, these rare objects remained a pair over time. Their patina is old and yellowed.

*

.

The reason for our ??? above is as follows. Much discussion has been made as to whether or not this and other related ladles are Southern African in origin, or 17th century Scottish - Irish dippers. The test would be to analyze the origin of the wood. European examples are known to have been made from Irish Sycamore and Maple. If African, then the wood source would be from there. Either way, such items are very very old.

Christie's Amsterdam - Lot 377 - 12-9-2002

Perhaps a dozen such ladles are know with spirals, which is the reason for the Tsonga peoples attribution. Above is an example sold at Christies Amsterdam in 2002. Note the serpent (?) facing away from the bowl.

*

.

This example was obtained from the Bruno Walters collection of Southern African Art. Related examples depict wildlife, so we suspect the triangular decoration represented the tail of a crocodile. Most scholars and collectors refer to anything coming out of the Ba Rotsi area to be Lozi. Doing so is wrong. This spoon has both Lozi and Tswana or Bechwana elements. It is debatable if the Lozi elements are of Lozi origin.

*