Dogon Standing Figure with Elongated Hair Style

The hair first. Two tall, rounded lobes, rising above the head.

This small standing figure was made by the Dogon of Mali in the 20th century. Dogon metalworkers produced miniature figures for shrines and personal altars, where they could stand for ancestors or protective presences. Just four inches tall, it stands upright on an oval base, long arms held straight at the sides. The face is broad, with a projecting chin and a ring at the neck. Small breasts, a swelling belly and a pronounced navel shape the torso.

Dark and slightly granular, the surface keeps a soft sheen on the raised areas.

Four inches of presence.