Dogon Seated Male Figure with Beard with Hand on Knee

Crouched figure tipping its long head sideways, deep in some private matter.

This seated bearded male figure with hand on knee is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is forged metal. A beard in West African figurative art is often used to suggest age and standing in the community, though its meaning differs between peoples. Figure bends forward with a long, tilted, oval head and arms reaching down across the knees. The body is thin and angular. The surface is a speckled mix of grey crust and orange-brown streaks. It is 1.25 inches wide, 1.25 deep and 2.5 high.

Pensive curve, rough skin, and plenty of private thoughts.