Dogon Standing Female Figure Holding Pounder

She clutches a pounder like a staff of office.

A Dogon smith of Mali, West Africa, forged this standing female figure holding a pounder in iron in the 20th century. Women pounding grain are a familiar image in Sahel life, and figures with a pounder are commonly associated with domestic labor and with fertility. She stands erect with square shoulders and heavy arm bands, both hands gripping a tall vertical pounder on her chest. The head is small and narrow, and the feet are planted flat. The surface is dark brown to olive and lightly pitted.

About five inches tall. An upright presence for a narrow shelf.