Bobo Standing Female Figure Holding Vessel

The jar rides on her shoulder, and one elbow points skyward to keep it there.

This standing female figure holding a vessel is Bobo, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is iron. Women carrying water or grain in vessels are a familiar subject in small metal figures from this region, generally read as images of daily labor and provision. Her body is drawn out long and thin, legs straight down to square feet. One arm loops over her head to steady a round, flared jar resting on the other shoulder. A banded waist and neat coiffure add detail. She is 2 inches wide and 6 high.

Balance like this does not come from the hips alone.