Very beautiful and rare ceremonial Senufo laddle from the Ivory Coast, The spherically shaped bowl is decorated with a thin web of small branches holding a circular ring.

The handle composed of a female Sénoufo figure standing up, topped by a standing hornbill 

Topped as well by two tangled rings, the ensemble cut from a single piece of wood.

HT 52 cm, very good state, late XIXth early XXth, beautiful brown patina, shiny in some places

Origin : Liuba and Ernesto Wolf collection (before 1964)

Bibliography : Vente Artcurial Lempertz 2014.

And for a similar piece (probably from the same artist) SENOUFO sans frontières : édition des 5 continents 2015, page 24 louche Senufo collection by Brian and Diane Leyden

Origin Alexander Gallery, Saint Louis. 

And in Tribal Art N° 65 Automne 2012 Page 114

As well in the Sotheby’s African and Oceania art sale of the 30/11/2010 in Paris,

Page 45 N° 79 ceremonial Senufo ladle of a similar conception, origin 

Rasmussen