A 71 cm wooden stirring spoon from the Egon Guenther Collection, shown diagonally with a broad, rounded blade and dark bands on its long, tapered handle. The slide lists its weight as 189 grams

Carved Wooden Stirring Paddle (Spatulate Spoon) — Probably Southern Africa

€125.00
€125.00
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A 71 cm wooden stirring spoon from the Egon Guenther Collection, shown diagonally with a broad, rounded blade and dark bands on its long, tapered handle. The slide lists its weight as 189 grams
  • A 71 cm wooden stirring spoon from the Egon Guenther Collection, shown diagonally with a broad, rounded blade and dark bands on its long, tapered handle. The slide lists its weight as 189 grams
  • Oblique view of a long carved wooden spoon with two dark bands on the shaft and a nearly flat, rounded blade that tilts slightly from it. The profile suggests a stirring paddle, though its original use is unrecorded.
  • Detail of a reddish-brown wooden spoon with a rounded blade tapering into a slender handle with a dark band. The slide compares its profile with a spoon from Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal (SAM-8430).
  • Close-up of a tapered wooden stirring spoon handle with three dark rings. The caption cites heat-darkened decoration on spoons from KwaZulu-Natal and among the Lozi of western Zambia, while noting that the method used on these rings is uncertain.
  • A long carved wooden spoon with a flared bowl and dark bands on the handle lies diagonally beneath the heading “Porridge or beer?” The slide notes that similar spoons were used to stir porridge or brew beer and that this spoon’s use remains uncertain.
  • A 71 cm wooden stirring spoon from the Egon Guenther Collection, shown diagonally with a broad, rounded blade and dark bands on its long, tapered handle. The slide lists its weight as 189 grams
  • Oblique view of a long carved wooden spoon with two dark bands on the shaft and a nearly flat, rounded blade that tilts slightly from it. The profile suggests a stirring paddle, though its original use is unrecorded.
  • Detail of a reddish-brown wooden spoon with a rounded blade tapering into a slender handle with a dark band. The slide compares its profile with a spoon from Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal (SAM-8430).
  • Close-up of a tapered wooden stirring spoon handle with three dark rings. The caption cites heat-darkened decoration on spoons from KwaZulu-Natal and among the Lozi of western Zambia, while noting that the method used on these rings is uncertain.
  • A long carved wooden spoon with a flared bowl and dark bands on the handle lies diagonally beneath the heading “Porridge or beer?” The slide notes that similar spoons were used to stir porridge or brew beer and that this spoon’s use remains uncertain.
Carved Wooden Stirring Paddle (Spatulate Spoon) — Probably Southern Africa

Carved Wooden Stirring Paddle (Spatulate Spoon) — Probably Southern Africa

€125.00
€125.00
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This long-handled wooden implement has a broad, rounded blade with a nearly flat profile, consistent with a stirring paddle or spatulate spoon. A spoon from Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, illustrated by Lindsay Hooper in the Annals of the South African Museum (1981, fig. 60, SAM-8430), provides a comparison for the blade outline. Darkened decoration is also documented on Lozi spoons from western Zambia. The precise origin, cultural attribution and maker remain unknown.

The blade and shaft were shaped by carving. The method used to darken the ring bands and the species of wood are unconfirmed. Light surface marks and minor edge blemishes are present, with no visible evidence of use as a stirring utensil. The piece was probably kept for display. Its length and collection history are of interest to collectors of southern African woodcarving and domestic implements. Please see photographs for condition details.

SKU: EG S02

Circa: Date of manufacture unknown. Probably in the Egon Guenther Collection by the 1970s, according to family recollection.

Provenance: Egon Guenther Collection, South Africa. Inherited by Thomas Guenther.

Measurements: 70.8 × 10.3 × 2.51 cm.
Weight: 189 g.

Further information: esteemedantiques@gmail.com
Collection available at: esteemedantiques.com

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