Malian Bronze Horse & Rider

The rider wears a wide hat and the expression of someone with somewhere to be.

This horse and rider comes from Mali, West Africa, and is attributed to the Djenne people. It dates to the 20th century and is cast in bronze. Equestrian figures are among the best known subjects of the inland Niger Delta, and the mounted figure is usually taken as an emblem of rank and authority. The horse is long bodied, with pricked ears and a short upturned tail. The rider sits upright, one hand on the neck, beneath a mushroom-shaped hat. Dark patina with green deposits covers it all. It is 5 inches wide and 3 high.

Small enough for a pocket, proud enough for a parade.