Dogon Iron Equestrian Figure

A rider and a pair of ears on a tall, spindly mount.

This iron equestrian figure is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. Iron is a strong metal that takes a dark, matte surface, and small figures made of it often keep a rough, hand-worked outline. Cast figure with a seated rider turned slightly to one side, holding a round object at the animal's neck. The mount has a thin body, upright ears and rod-like legs. The metal is dark and textured. It is 3.75 inches wide, 0.5 deep and 4.5 high.

The legs are thin, and the spirit is not.