Dogon Wood Ladder, Mali, Based

A darker piece, with a long straight stem and one arm thrown out sideways.

Dogon people of Mali, West Africa, carved this ladder in wood in the early 20th century. Ladders of this kind, cut from a single forked trunk, are commonly used to climb to granary roofs and terraces. The fork is lopsided, one arm short and stout, the other lifting at an angle. The trunk is smooth and slim, brown to near black, and the surface carries a satin sheen with long cracks and a few shallow notches. A small black base supports it.

About 54 inches tall. Lean and asymmetrical, which is its charm.