Dogon Seated Male Figure, Based

Dark seated figure with a tiny passenger propped between its knees.

This seated male figure on a base is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the early 20th century. It is iron. Dogon figurative art is often marked by simplified, elongated forms, a style seen in both wood carving and small metal sculpture from Mali. Tall, thin figure sits with long arms down and a stern face, a smaller figure tucked in front of the lap. Both are cast with rough, lumpy texture in near-black tones. A flat black plate carries them. It is 2 inches wide, 2 deep and 4 high.

Parenthood, or at least extremely firm babysitting.