Dogon Bronze Standing Figure, Based

Hands clasped low in front, he stands like a man waiting politely for a door to open.

This standing figure is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is bronze, and it comes on a base. Dogon smiths have long produced slender cast figures, which are generally associated with shrines and with honoring ancestors. The body is a long tube, with arms falling to meet in front of the hips. A ring encircles the neck, and the head tilts slightly forward with small features. Anklets mark each foot where it meets the stand. The surface is dark and lightly textured. It is 2.5 inches wide and 6 high.

Courtesy, cast in metal and kept at attention.