Ritual ladle/spoon with anthropomorphic figure

Title: Ritual Ladle/Spoon with Anthropomorphic Figure
Material: Carved wood with traces of red pigment
Dimensions: H. 42 x 11.5 x 7 cm
Origin: Mali, Bandiagara Cliffs (West Africa), Dogon people
Date: 20th century (first half/middle of the 20th, to be confirmed)
Symbolism: Ancestors/Protection; the figure on the back acts as a guardian spirit of the home and shared food. Water and fertility; the “fish/crocodile” profile refers to the powers of water and fertility cycles (recurring in Dogon myths). Generosity and prestige: As in other cultures in the area, the ladle can be a sign of status for the head of the family or a woman of great generosity in community ceremonies. Function: Ceremonial and domestic-ritual use (banquets, offerings, sharing of food or drinks such as millet/millet beer). A practical use is not excluded, but the figurative elaboration indicates above all a symbolic value.