Dogon Kneeling Male Figure

Kneeling, hands on thighs, belly forward, he has the look of a man waiting his turn.

This kneeling male figure is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is iron. Kneeling postures appear throughout Dogon figurative work and are generally taken as gestures of respect or supplication. His long arms run straight down to the knees, with hands flat on the thighs. A chevron pattern crosses the chest above a rounded stomach, and the face is long, with a narrow nose and small mouth. The surface is dark and rough throughout. He stands 1 inch wide and 4.75 high.

Patience, it turns out, can be forged.