Dogon Standing Janiform or Twin Figures

One figure stands on its own reflection, upside down and holding the whole thing up.

This standing janiform or twin figure is Dogon, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century, in forged metal. Dogon metalwork, made by smiths who held a respected place in the community, often uses paired or doubled figures, and twinning is generally understood as an important theme in Dogon thought. A crested head with a long ridged nose rises at the top, ending in a small cylinder. Below the body, a second figure is turned upside down, its arms looping out to meet a flat oval base. The surface carries a green and brown patina. It is 1.5 inches wide and 6 high.

Two figures, one balancing act, and nobody falls.