Dan Ceremonial Spoon (wunkirmian)

A large carved wooden ceremonial ladle of the type known as wunkirmian. The spoon is understood as the material form of a helping spirit belonging to high-ranking hostesses, who used it in ritual dance to distribute food symbolically at festivals. During the harvest season between November and February villages held multi-day celebrations to which every resident contributed what they could; after the various events and dance performances the women prepared the closing feast, opening it by processing with their elaborately carved rice spoons and bowls.