Lobi Forged Iron Equestrian Figure, Based

A horse made of three bent bars, and a rider winding around his own spine.

Lobi artists of Burkina Faso, West Africa, made this equestrian figure in forged iron in the 20th century. Horse and rider forms are commonly associated with status, and Lobi iron work is known for its spare, abstract shapes. The rider twists around the horse’s back, and the horse arches its neck in a tall hook, supported by thick, rounded legs. A green-gray patina covers the surface, mounted on a black base.

About three inches tall. Spare, and it knows it.