Artwork Page for Snuff Spoon/Comb (intshengula or izintshengula)

Details / Information for Snuff Spoon/Comb (intshengula or izintshengula)

Snuff Spoon/Comb (intshengula or izintshengula)

late 1800s

Africa, Southern Africa, South Africa, Zulu-style maker

Medium
Bone
Measurements
Overall: 15.2 cm (6 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Dori and Daniel Rootenberg, Jacaranda Tribal, New York 2010.233
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
108B Southern African
Print
?

Did You Know?

Such spoons were typically worn as ornaments in the hair or even the beard, signaling the social standing of their wearer.

Description

Often, snuff spoons made from the rib of an ox or cow were subtly carved to suggest a female body. Decorated with incised designs blackened with cattle fat and ash, many are true hybrid objects, combining a spoon with a long-tined comb or hairpin. Such spoons were typically worn as ornaments in the hair or even the beard, thus signaling the social standing of their wearer.
A bone sculpture consists of a shallow oval bowl that tapers into a slender, curved neck detailed with a cross-hatched texture. This neck widens into a flat section before splitting into three long, thin prongs extending to sharp points at our right. The off-white material, marked with subtle brown speckles, possesses a smooth, polished finish. The glint of light highlights the contrast between the textured neck and the smooth, functional prongs.

Snuff Spoon/Comb (intshengula or izintshengula)

late 1800s

Africa, Southern Africa, South Africa, Zulu-style maker

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork