Malian Two Headed Animal Figure

Gangly animal on long jointed legs balances a round pot on its back.

This two-headed animal figure of the Djenne people is from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is iron. Small iron figures in West Africa were generally forged by blacksmiths, who heated and hammered the metal into compact, simplified forms. Cast dark metal creature with a tall angled neck, a small head and four stick-like legs, each with a rivet-like bump. A round lidless bowl sits on the back, and the tail curls into a loop. Surface is rough and mottled. It is 5 inches wide, 2 deep and 5 high.

Awkward in all the right places, and sturdy anyway.