Dogon Hair Pin with Female Figure

Eight inches of iron, and a woman at the very top.

Dogon blacksmiths of Mali, West Africa, forged this hair pin in iron in the 20th century. Decorative pins with figural tops are commonly associated with personal adornment and with the status of the wearer. A slender female figure stands at the crown, her head capped by a delicate loop, with a ringed collar beneath and a long, tapering shaft below. The shaft is plain and dark, and the figure is picked out in warm brown tones. It stands on a stand with a black base.

About 10 inches tall. A hair pin, upgraded to a small monument.