Dogon Figure with Ears Covered, Based

Both hands pressed to the ears, as though the figure has heard quite enough for one day.

This figure with ears covered, based, is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is forged metal. Dogon metal figures are often linked to shrines and ancestral practice, and their gestures are usually read as meaningful, though interpretations vary. The figure is long and narrow, its elbows lifted and hands cupped over the ears. The torso is incised with bands and chevrons, and a smaller form appears near the base. The surface is a dark green-gray patina. It stands on a square base, 1.5 inches wide, 1.5 deep and 6.5 high.

A gesture recognized in every language.