Statue of an ancestor - Dogon - Mali
05
days
11
hours
20
minutes
49
seconds
Current bid
€ 50
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
 | €50 | |
|---|---|---|
| €2 | |
 | €1 |
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Description from the seller
Mali
Dogon
Bois
Height: 345mm + 3mm metal base
Width: 65mm
Depth: 65mm
This anthropomorphic wooden sculpture is characteristic of the Dogon people’s art (region of the Bandiagara cliffs, Mali).
In Dogon cosmogony and social life, statues are not merely decorative objects, but spiritual receptacles.
Meaning: The cult of ancestors and twins
The aesthetics of this piece — with its stylized posture, elongated geometric forms, and crusty patina — refer to several fundamental concepts:
The connection with the divine and the ancestors: These statues, generally called dege, serve as a physical support to receive nyama (the spiritual life force) of a deceased ancestor or a deity.
The ritual posture: The bent position (knees bent, gathered posture) expresses both respect, stability, and spiritual tension. The arms along the body or resting on the thighs direct energy toward the earth and the foundations of the lineage.
Morphological details: The elongated neck, often surrounded by relief motifs (evoking adornments or scarifications), as well as the egg-shaped head topped with a crest or central cimier, symbolize wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual authority.
Uses: The ritual at the heart of the community
Such a statue found its place in very precise ritual contexts, managed by religious leaders or clan heads (the Hogons or lineage chiefs):
The family or lineage altar (Le Binu): It was placed on domestic altars or sanctuaries dedicated to mythical ancestors. Libations were poured there (usually millet porridge, sometimes sacrificial blood during important ceremonies), which explains the thick crusty patina visible on many authentic pieces.
The fertility and harvest cult: Many Dogon statues serve to intercede with spirits to ask for rain, soil fertility, and protection of pregnant women or the community against malevolent forces.
Funerary rituals: They could be taken out during mourning ceremonies to honor the memory of the deceased and guide their soul to the realm of the ancestors, thus ensuring the social and spiritual balance of the village.
Delivery with insurance and tracking number.
Packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and the world via International Colissimo.
We speak english
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Statue of African art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane African Mask Art
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateMali
Dogon
Bois
Height: 345mm + 3mm metal base
Width: 65mm
Depth: 65mm
This anthropomorphic wooden sculpture is characteristic of the Dogon people’s art (region of the Bandiagara cliffs, Mali).
In Dogon cosmogony and social life, statues are not merely decorative objects, but spiritual receptacles.
Meaning: The cult of ancestors and twins
The aesthetics of this piece — with its stylized posture, elongated geometric forms, and crusty patina — refer to several fundamental concepts:
The connection with the divine and the ancestors: These statues, generally called dege, serve as a physical support to receive nyama (the spiritual life force) of a deceased ancestor or a deity.
The ritual posture: The bent position (knees bent, gathered posture) expresses both respect, stability, and spiritual tension. The arms along the body or resting on the thighs direct energy toward the earth and the foundations of the lineage.
Morphological details: The elongated neck, often surrounded by relief motifs (evoking adornments or scarifications), as well as the egg-shaped head topped with a crest or central cimier, symbolize wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual authority.
Uses: The ritual at the heart of the community
Such a statue found its place in very precise ritual contexts, managed by religious leaders or clan heads (the Hogons or lineage chiefs):
The family or lineage altar (Le Binu): It was placed on domestic altars or sanctuaries dedicated to mythical ancestors. Libations were poured there (usually millet porridge, sometimes sacrificial blood during important ceremonies), which explains the thick crusty patina visible on many authentic pieces.
The fertility and harvest cult: Many Dogon statues serve to intercede with spirits to ask for rain, soil fertility, and protection of pregnant women or the community against malevolent forces.
Funerary rituals: They could be taken out during mourning ceremonies to honor the memory of the deceased and guide their soul to the realm of the ancestors, thus ensuring the social and spiritual balance of the village.
Delivery with insurance and tracking number.
Packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and the world via International Colissimo.
We speak english
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Statue of African art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane African Mask Art
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Statue of an ancestor
Ethnic group/ culture
Dogon
Country of Origin
Mali
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
