Dogon Forged Iron Standing Figure, Based

A strip of iron, two hooked arms and a rounded head. A Dogon smith knew where to stop.

This standing figure was forged in Mali in the 20th century. Dogon blacksmiths held an important place in their communities, and their iron figures were made for shrines and ritual use. The body is a single flat strip with a small rounded head, and two arms curve out from the shoulders and hook downward. The legs part slightly and end in small rounded feet.

A rich orange-brown rust covers the surface, with the slight roughness of hammered iron. Seven and a quarter inches tall on a slim base. Few lines, much said.