Dogon Ring of 5 Shields

Five little domes on a bronze ring, like a gathering of tiny stools.

Dogon metalworkers of Mali, West Africa, cast this ring of five shields in bronze in the early 20th century. Dogon bronze rings and small ornaments are commonly worn as personal adornment, and their shapes often echo local symbols. A band carries five round, flattened discs overlapped like a cloverleaf, each with a small peg or boss rising from its center. The surface is crusty and green with sandy tan deposits, and the underside of the band has worn smooth.

About an inch and a half high. Wear it, or let it stand in the dish by your door.