Dogon Wood Standing Figure

A long, solemn face sits on a very tall, very narrow body.

This standing figure is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood. Dogon carvers are generally known for slender, upright figures with arms held close to the body, and the forms are often tied to ancestors and community life. This one has an elongated head with a pronounced nose, a small topknot, and a ringed neck. The torso is incised with fine marks, and arms run straight down the sides. The surface is dry and weathered, and a black base holds it upright. It is 2.5 inches wide and deep and 15 high.

Rather tall for a figure of such quiet manners.