Dogon Standing Maternity Figure

The baby clings at the shoulder like a small passenger who knows the route.

This standing maternity figure is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is iron. Images of women with children are among the most familiar subjects in Dogon sculpture, usually connected with fertility and family continuity. She stands tall and slender, feet set apart, anklets at each leg. Her arms gather a child to the chest, while a short fringed skirt hangs at the hips. A crested head and long nose complete the elongated form. The surface is smooth and dark. She is 1 inch wide and 5.25 high.

Slim, upright, and fully occupied.