Ceremonial spoon

The wunkirmian is a ceremonial ladle carved to honor a particular woman who has distinguished herself through generosity or hospitality. Emblematic of honor and status, wunkirmian are the possession of the wunkirle or wakede. Wunkirmian also hold spiritual power. Sometimes these spoons are depicted with legs, but it is not the most common feature carved. More frequent are handles representing the likeness of a human head, such as in this piece. This spoon is a badge of prestige acknowledging an individual woman for her incomparable generosity, a symbol of status and the bearer of spiritual powers.