Malian Pendant Depicting Seated Man

A twisted dark loop that looks like a seated figure caught inside a pretzel.

This pendant depicting a seated man is from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is bronze. Djenne, on the inland Niger delta in Mali, has long been a center of trade, Islamic scholarship and craftsmanship, and is known for its art in clay and metal. A small, dark, hooked piece with a looped top and a tapering stem that curls around a tiny crouching figure. The surface is rough, dull brown with traces of green and uneven edges. It is 0.5 inches wide, 0.5 deep and 2 high.

Hard to explain, but clearly well-considered.