Dogon Figurine

Powerful Dogon statuette with a compact form and a surprisingly dense presence, carved from an ancient wood deeply weathered by time. The body, defined by a tense verticality, features arms pressed firmly against the chest, a narrow torso, and massive legs, fitting perfectly into the purest tradition of Dogon ancestral figures.

The crusty, thick, and stratified patina bears witness to a long ritual history: sacrificial deposits, amalgamated dust, traces of ointments, and repeated handling. This mineral-like skin, almost fossilized, imbues the work with a telluric intensity and a profoundly sacred character.

The face, reduced to its essential features, is characterized by an abrupt geometry: a prominent chin and a pronounced forehead accentuate the impression of a mediating figure turned towards the invisible. Despite its contained dimensions, the statuette imposes a rare and magnetic presence, typical of great ancient Dogon works, whose power stems as much from the carving itself as from the ritual accumulations that elevate it.

Date
19th century or earlier.

Provenance
Olivier Castellano, Paris.
Srdjean Sremac, Amsterdam.
Jonas de Boeck, Waterloo.
Vincenzo Casale, Brussels.

Condition
Crusty, almost fossilized patina, two incisions on the back.

Dimensions
Height: 18 cm (base included).