Dogon Hair Pin Depicting Two Lizards, Based

Nearby, a bird-like curl perches on the end of a pin, ready to take off.

This hair pin depicting two lizards is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is iron. The Dogon of Mali are known for their ironwork, and slender forged pins topped with small figures were made as hair ornaments and personal accessories. Seen plainly, a thin dark metal shaft mounted on a flat grey stand, ending in a swirled top with two curved, beak-like forms. A knobbed collar sits beneath the curls. Its slim stem has a tiny wire loop partway down. It is 2 inches wide, 2 deep and 7.5 high.

A flourish at the top and not a word wasted below.