Unrecorded artist, N.Nguni Peoples

Notes

Beyond their practical function, snuff spoons also served as personal adornments — subtle indicators of status, discernment, and taste.

Their intimate scale demanded meticulous craftsmanship, and like the snuff containers themselves, they were miniature works of art. This delicate example, with its openwork, cross-hatching, and delicate tines, could have been worn as a hair ornament and may also have served a dual purpose as a small comb.

Provenance

Colin Sayers Collection.