Listen to the pronunciation
| What is this? | Snuff Spoon |
| isiZulu Name | Intshengula |
| isiXhosa Name | Intshaza |
| English Name | Snuff Spoon |
| Which cultural group created this? | Zulu |
| Who made this? | Not yet documented. |
| When was it made? | Not yet documented. |
| Where was it made? | Probably KwaZulu-Natal |
| Measurements | 11.1 cm (L) 1.5 cm (W of bowl) x 2.5 cm (L of bowl) |
| How was it made and what is it made of? | Carved in cow’s bone. Metal string surrounding handle at 2/3 from narrow end. Engravings with geometric shapes on inferior area from string to bowl. |
| What colour is it? | Bone: light yellow String and engravings: black |
| What sound does it make? | Not yet documented. |
| Physical description | Bone spoon with thin and long handle and oval bowl. 2/3 away from handle’s end, there is a metal string around the handle. From the string to the bowl, blackened cross-hatching engravings decorate the underside of neck. Handle widens consistently from tip to neck, where it narrows right before widening again to create the bowl. Tapering oval bowl has a well defined lower edge which separates it from the neck of the handle, with a wider end and protruding borders. Polished overall. |
| Where is it now? | Iziko Museum, Cape Town, South Africa Museum ID: SAM 6734 Accessioned in September 1948 (donation) Store B43/r |
| How did it get there? | Donated to Iziko Museum as part of the Dunn Collection in September 1948. Dunn Collection: 145 (1871-1886) |
| Why is it important? | Bone spoon made by the bone of the cow. Used by traditional healers and other people for snuffing snuff. |
| Notes | Not yet. |
| References | Amagugu Ethu Workshop, Recording STE021, min. 22:19: Skhumbuzo Miya Iziko Museum Catalogue Card SAM 6734 |
| Who described this? | Describe during Amagugu Ethu Workshop by Skhumbuzo Miya. Described for the website by Clara Giménez-Delgado (August 10, 2020). |