Malian Seated Female Figure

Green as an old penny and just as flat-faced, this slim figure sits at attention.

This seated female figure from the Djenne people is from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is bronze. Seated figures in West African art commonly represent ancestors, elders or founders, and the posture is usually taken to suggest dignity and calm. Narrow cast figure with a pointed, ridged head, small raised chest marks, and arms hanging along the sides. One leg bends forward at the knee. Blue-green encrustation covers most of the surface over darker surface. It is 3 inches wide, 1 deep and 1 high.

Spare lines, steady gaze, no wasted effort.