Dogon Bronze Twisted Figure

A sinuous coil, a pointed head, a round foot.

A Dogon artist of Mali, West Africa, cast this twisted figure in bronze in the 20th century. Serpent coils wrapped around standing figures are a recurring motif in Dogon metalwork and are commonly read in relation to creation stories. A small head with a pointed crown tops a slender body, and a narrow ribbon winds around the torso. The figure rises from a round, flat disc base. The patina is mottled green and chalky gray, dusted in white.

About 4.2 inches tall. Spiral, simple, and a touch mysterious.