Dogon Character, Mali, Late 19th – Early 20th Century

A standing wrought-iron figure, its extremely slender silhouette resting on large, flat, palm-shaped feet, whose disproportionate size accentuates the overall verticality. Slender legs extend a narrow torso surmounted by an ovoid head. The remarkably long arms are raised, and the hands are placed over the face in an intense and enigmatic gesture. The minimalist modeling, the tension of the lines, and the balance of the volumes give this figure a powerful graphic presence. Wrought iron with an old brown patina, showing signs of wear and age (see photos). Dogon, Mali, late 19th – early 20th century. Dimensions: 16.5 × 4.2 × 3 cm. Provenance: former private collection, Paris. Sold with a certificate of authenticity from expert Serge Reynes. Invoice available upon request.* Shipping costs upon request. "Among the Dogon, the gestures of metal effigies are rarely accidental: they refer to ritual attitudes, states of communication, or moments of transition between the visible and the invisible. The gesture of the hands covering or framing the face is documented in several symbolic contexts. It can evoke a posture of inner withdrawal, linked to divination or consulting ancestral forces; it can also refer to the dramatic moment when the human being protects themselves from cosmic disorder, a recurring gesture in certain Dogon mythological narratives. In some interpretations, this gesture signals listening to invisible voices or receiving a spiritual message, the figure seeming to cut itself off from the outside world to better resonate with the invisible. This attitude, combined with the rigorous verticality and economy of form, gives this small figure a silent intensity that transcends simple human representation and opens onto a deeper ritual dimension."