ZULU PEOPLE, SOUTH AFRICA

Most southern African peoples had seminomadic lifestyles until the twentieth century. Often on the move, individuals typically limited their personal possessions to a small collection of portable items. Those associated with sleep and tobacco—namely headrests and containers for snuff—were especially important because dreaming and the hallucinogenic use of tobacco were traditional ways to connect with one’s ancestors.

Such circumstances impelled artists to craft items with a clever eye to the multifaceted. This elegant snuff spoon is a splendid example of southern African carvers’ genius in combining functional, spiritual, and aesthetic qualities in a single object. Here a small scoop for taking snuff doubles as a comb, and serves as a handsome hair ornament when not in use. The form is beautifully refined, cut and smoothed with sensitive delicacy, and its excellent condition attests to the care with which its owners used it. Sculpturally, the piece shows a taut energy of contrast, both sensuous and austere, sinuous and rigid, round and sharp, densely detailed and unembellished. As is often the case with Zulu functional objects, there is a strong figurative element incorporated in the design. Small restoration to tip of one tine of the comb.

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