Dogon Wood Miniature Ladder, Based

Nine sturdy rungs, a forked top, and a face peeking out at the crown.

This miniature ladder, based, is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood. Dogon ladders are generally cut from a single trunk, with steps notched along the shaft and a forked top, and full size examples are used to climb to granaries and upper rooms. This miniature has a nearly straight shaft cut with a long run of rounded steps, in pale wood with darker hollows. Two short prongs fork at the top, and a small carved face seems to peer from one of them. A black metal plate holds it upright. It is 3 inches wide and deep and 20.25 high.

The tallest of the small ones, and clearly proud of it.