A Senufo ceremonial spoon with a female figure as the handle, Cote d'Ivoire. Signs of ritual use and age. Incl stand. The Senufo ceremonial spoon is a sculptural object embedded in the ritual, social, and moral systems of Senufo communities in northern Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Far from being a utilitarian eating implement, the ceremonial spoon functions as a symbol of status, ethical responsibility, and social leadership, particularly within women’s associations and initiation contexts. Its significance lies in its role as a visual and performative expression of ideal character and communal values. Typically carved from wood, Senufo ceremonial spoons are distinguished by elaborate handles topped with sculptural figures or symbolic motifs. These figures often represent idealized human forms, sometimes female, emphasizing qualities such as composure, generosity, and moral restraint. The careful balance between abstraction and naturalism reflects Senufo aesthetic principles, which favor clarity of form, controlled expression, and a sense of inner discipline. The bowl of the spoon, while functional in appearance, is primarily symbolic, reinforcing the object’s association with nourishment, care, and social provision. In social practice, ceremonial spoons are closely associated with women who hold positions of responsibility, particularly those recognized for their generosity and ability to provide for others. Ownership or public display of such a spoon signals not wealth alone but moral standing, especially the capacity to support communal feasts, rituals, and obligations. In this context, the spoon becomes an emblem of ethical leadership, linking material abundance to social duty and restraint. The ceremonial spoon also intersects with Senufo religious and initiation systems, including the broader cosmological framework that emphasizes balance between visible and invisible forces. Figurative elements may allude to ancestral ideals or to virtues cultivated through initiation into societies that structure moral and spiritual life. The spoon thus participates in a symbolic language that connects nourishment of the body with nourishment of the social and moral order. From an art historical perspective, Senufo ceremonial spoons exemplify the integration of sculpture and social ethics in West African art. They challenge distinctions between decorative art and moral instrument, demonstrating how everyday forms can be transformed into powerful symbols through scale, iconography, and context of use. In museum collections, these spoons are often admired for their elegant proportions and sculptural refinement, yet their full meaning is inseparable from the social relationships, ritual performances, and moral expectations that originally animated them. References Susan Mullin Vogel, Art and Life in Africa. Anita J. Glaze, Art and Death in a Senufo Village. Patrick R. McNaughton, The Arts of the Mande and Senufo Peoples. CAN29688 Height: 48 cm without stand