Dogon Iron Equestrian Figure

A horse, in Dogon country, has long meant wealth and status. Put a man on its back and the point is made twice.

Mali, early 20th century. Iron, four inches tall. The horse has an arched neck, pointed ears and a slender, raised tail, with a raised spiral medallion on its flank and a twisted rope rein running from its mouth. The rider sits upright, arms reaching forward, his large oval head lightly incised. The surface is dark, rubbed lighter at the high points, with a trace of red on one foreleg.

Small, but it has somewhere to be.