West Africa, Central Mali, Dogon peoples, ca. 1890s CE. A hand-carved wooden figure of a male shown from the waist up with his arms resting to his sides and his hands folded at his waist. Presenting a bulbous chest, a lengthy body, and a raised navel, the stylized figure features an elongated head displaying annular eyes under a straight brow, a down-pointed nose, and full lips. Size: 2.4" W x 13" H (6.1 cm x 33 cm); 19.625" H (49.8 cm) on included custom stand.

The Dogon people inhabit the rocky heights of Mali's Bandiagara Escarpment. Wooden figures, such as this example, are traditionally created for shrines and depict the spirits responsible for the fertility of both the land and the Dogon people, such as the family's real and mythical ancestors, women who have died in childbirth, and water spirits.

Note the rich patina throughout this piece. According to Giulia Paoletti, Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Postdoctoral Fellow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Among the Dogon the patina played the role of receptacle for nyama, or life force. Without this substance and its ritual appliance, the statue would be a mere piece of wood devoid of any protective power. The patina thus becomes a crucial component in appreciating this sculpture and its ceremonial significance."

Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection, purchased from Julie Carson at Carson Gallery, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

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#162912

Missing legs. Losses to left arm, top of head, and stomach. Vertical fissures down sides and across face. Expected nicks/chips and abrasions commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with light earthen deposits in recessed areas and rich patina.