Dogon Horse & Rider Bronze with Sword

The rider sits tall. The horse looks like it has opinions.

Dogon casters of Mali, West Africa, made this horse and rider in bronze, with a sword in the rider’s hand. Equestrian figures are commonly associated with status, leadership and the Dogon sense of the ancestral past. The rider has an elongated face and a pointed chin, and he holds a rein attached to the horse’s head. The horse stands on four short, blocky legs with an arched neck. The bronze is dark and dense, with a rich brown patina and rough casting texture visible on the flanks.

About 7 inches tall. A small cavalry for a large desk.