Dogon Rider Ring, Mali

Horseman ring, a ring with a rounded cross-section, surmounted by a horseman seated on a stylized mount and carrying a large circular shield with concentric decoration. The top is compact, precisely modeled, with a balanced silhouette resulting from a clean and regular casting. Brass, lost-wax casting, patinated by time and use. Dogon, Mali. Dimensions 6 × 2.3 cm. Provenance: Private collection, Paris. Sold with stand, invoice from Galerie Ocarina, and certificate of authenticity from expert Serge Reynes. "These equestrian rings were associated with figures of authority among the Dogon, where the horseman symbolizes power, prestige, and the capacity for action within the lineage. Often worn or kept by notables or chiefs, they also played a protective role, reinforcing the social status of their wearer while materializing their link with the ancestors and the tutelary forces of the group."