Dogon Forged Iron Kneeling Figure, Based

Four inches of iron, folded and twisted into a kneeling figure.

Dogon blacksmiths held an important place in their society, and iron figures like this were made for altars and shrines. This one comes from Mali and dates to the 20th century. It is reduced to essentials: a flat, wedge-shaped head, a long twisted shaft of a body, and arms that curve outward and down in open arcs. The legs fold back beneath into tight loops.

The dark, rust-brown surface shows the hammer marks of the forge, and a small black block holds it up. Not much metal. A whole posture.