Dogon Bronze Seated Figure

Willowy figure with arms hanging down like two long ribbons.

This seated bronze figure is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the early 20th century. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, though in West Africa the term is often applied loosely to copper alloys that include brass. Very slender standing figure leans slightly sideways, its arms stretched long past the hips and joined to the legs. A pointed oval head with a small mark at the top. The surface is pale tan and pitted, softly crusted. It is 1 inches wide, 1 deep and 3.25 high.

Elongated, a bit dazed, and somehow elegant.