Kotoko Bronze Equestrian Figure

One rider, one beak, no time to waste.

This equestrian figure was cast in bronze by Kotoko artisans of Chad, Central Africa, in the 20th century. Kotoko riders are often associated with authority and with the horse as a mark of rank. The rider here stands rather than sits, a slender form with a long, curved, beak-like head leaning forward. The horse is tall and lean, with a pricked muzzle and four long, grooved legs like stilts. A mottled patina of green and brown covers the casting.

About five inches tall. Angular and quick, it brings a little motion to a still shelf.