Dogon Seated Female Figure with Raised Arms

A ring, a coil and a curl of a head, all worked out of one long rod.

This seated female figure with raised arms is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and is bronze. Dogon metalwork is generally associated with smiths, who hold a distinct and respected place in Dogon society. The piece shown is a slim shaft with a textured surface, rising from a looped foot to a scrolled, horned head. A large ring arcs above it, tied at the neck with a bound collar, and the whole has a brown, rust-colored skin. It is 2.75 inches wide, 2.75 deep and 5.75 high.

Whatever it holds up, it holds up with conviction.