Large spoon carved from a gourd from Nigeria. The spoon is decorated with a snake motif. The snake has been incised into the exterior of the gourd and appears to be double headed with a regular triangular pattern covering its entire body. The field around the snake has been cut out, so that the snake appears in relief. Around the snake is a circular border of two lines of triangles. Two long parallel lines are carved into the neck of the gourd and an additional border line is carved around the entire lip of the spoon. The interior of the gourd is clean and light in color. In the bottom of the cup of the spoon there is another simple design of an "X" composed of two sets of parallel lines enclosed by a series of concentric circles.
- Catalog Number:
- 400527 -DSP
- Object/Specimen Description:
- Specimen Count:
- 1
- Precise Locality:
Central Nigeria
- Locality:
- African Region
- Collecting Locality:
- Africa, Nigeria
- Special Instructions:
- Only available digitally
- Location:
- Collection Wall
Baule woodcarvers at work, Yagolikro village, Ivory Coast
Photograph by Eliot Elisofon, 1972. Image no. EEPA EECL 6900. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
Humans have always manipulated their environment, whether by acquiring food, making and using tools, or other aspects of daily life. They are constantly interacting with their environment on a daily basis. By using the available materials, humans have created shelter, made tools, created containers and vessels, and produced items of personal and cultural significance. Many of these resources are naturally occurring, such as stones, minerals, animal bones, or organic fibers from plants, while others are made from combining materials. The process of acquiring these materials and the manufacturing process can be traditional practices that are passed down from one generation to another. Because materials are unique to the location of different communities and cultures, by studying the types of materials, as well as animal remains found and the processes used to manipulate them, anthropologists and researchers can learn about the daily activities and lifestyles of the cultures they are studying. In what ways do you interact with your environment on a daily basis?