Kotoko Bronze Equestrian Figure

A horse with a coiled trunk and a shield for a halo.

This bronze equestrian figure was cast by Kotoko makers in Chad, Central Africa, in the 19th or 20th century. Kotoko horsemen are commonly associated with leadership, and a round shield often appears among the details. Two riders sit close, their heads shaped like ridged helmets, with a large concentric disc behind them. The horse’s neck rises in a great curl ending in a tight spiral, and the body is wrapped in cast bands. The bronze is almost black and richly handled.

About seven inches tall. The tallest of its kind in the room, and it knows it.