Gurunsi Iron Feline Figure

Long, low animal, stippled all over, with a tail waving behind it.

This iron feline figure from the Gurunsi peoples is Gurunsi, and dates to the 19th century. It is burkina faso, ghana or ivory coast, west africa. Small iron animal figures from West Africa are often made by forging, and the cat family is a subject of great respect in many local traditions. Sausage-shaped body covered in a tight pattern of tiny dots, supported on four thin legs. A round head with small upturned horns or ears lowers at right, and the thin tail lifts and curls at left. It is 1 inches wide, 5.5 deep and 1.5 high.

Built like a loaf of bread, and happy about it.