Dogon Seated Female Figure

A seated woman in iron, no larger than a good pocket.

Dogon metalworkers of Mali, West Africa, made this seated female figure in iron in the 20th century. Dogon seated women are a long-standing theme in the region’s art, often read as symbols of motherhood, lineage and continuity. Here the figure sits upright with long arms resting at the knees, a narrow torso and a small pointed head. The surface is dark and slightly rough, with the dull sheen of aged iron. Her proportions are elongated and spare.

About four inches tall. Small and dense, it holds its own against much bigger neighbors.