Dogon Wood Miniature Ladder, Based

A pole with seven neat steps and a stubby elbow at the top.

This miniature ladder, based, is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood. Dogon ladders are generally cut from one trunk, with the steps notched into the shaft and a short branch left at the top. Here the shaft curves gently, with deep rounded steps, some darkened by age. A blocky side arm sticks out near the top. A thin black metal plate supports the base. It is 4 inches wide and deep and 19 high.

The kind of ladder that suggests a short, determined climb.