Small attic hatch 15 cm / Altar object - Dogon - Mali
05
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Bronze Dogon votive panel from Mali, titled Petit volet de grenier 15cm / Objet d'autel, height 150 mm plus a 10 mm stand, width 90 mm, depth 3 mm, weight 210 g, dating to the late 20th century, sold with stand, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Mali
Dogon
Bronze
Height: 150mm + base 10mm
Width: 90mm
Depth: 3mm
Weight: 210g
This small miniaturized panel (or votive plaque) in metal/bronze by lost-wax casting is a remarkable piece from the Dogon people (Bandiagara Escarpment, Mali).
Here is its complete analysis:
1. Origin & Manufacturing Technique
• Origin: Dogon people (Bandiagara region, Mali).
• Material and Technique: Unlike large wooden granary panels, this 15 cm miniature is cast in an amalgamation/bronze alloy using the lost-wax method.
• Finish: The surface shows a patina of excavation/shrine with earthy and oxidized deposits, typical of ritual metal objects preserved in family or initiates' altars.
2. Usage and Ritual Function
Due to its small size (15 cm), this object was not used to close a real domestic granary. It serves a very specific function:
• Votive Plate / Altar Object: These miniature panels are laid on ritual altars (Binu or ancestral Nommo altars). They serve as “symbolic doors” or receptacles for prayers.
• Protect the spiritual granary: In Dogon cosmogony, the granary is the center of the universe and life. Owning or offering a miniature replica of the sacralized panel aims to attract the protection of spirits over the family’s real harvests.
• Insignia or protective amulet: It could also belong to a building chief (Hogon) or a diviner as a ritual prestige object.
3. Decoding Iconographic Imagery
Each register sculpted in bas-relief traces fragments of the Dogon creation myth:
• The Primordial Ancestors (Nommo): Stylized human figures arranged across several registers represent mythical ancestors (Nommo) raising their arms or standing guard.
• Kanaga/Sirige Masks: The upper register presents figures evocative of the Kanaga mask (cross-like Lorraine shape with arms raised and lowered), symbolizing the junction between sky and earth.
• Spears and Trees of Life: In the center, vertical motifs shaped like spears recall the transmission of knowledge and weapons of spiritual protection.
• Sinusoidal Lines (Serpent / Water): The wavy friezes at the bottom and sides represent the sacred serpent (Lebe) and primordial water, guarantors of soil fertility and regeneration.
• The Miniature Locking System: On the right side one can discern the presence of a miniature spur/hasp, reminiscent of the traditional Dogon lock mechanism.
The objects are sent with insured shipping and tracking number.
Rapid and protected shipping. Parcels are sent Monday through Saturday.
Delivery within 1 to 3 days in France, 2 to 5 days across Europe.
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
Bronze
Height: 150mm + base 10mm
Width: 90mm
Depth: 3mm
Weight: 210g
This small miniaturized panel (or votive plaque) in metal/bronze by lost-wax casting is a remarkable piece from the Dogon people (Bandiagara Escarpment, Mali).
Here is its complete analysis:
1. Origin & Manufacturing Technique
• Origin: Dogon people (Bandiagara region, Mali).
• Material and Technique: Unlike large wooden granary panels, this 15 cm miniature is cast in an amalgamation/bronze alloy using the lost-wax method.
• Finish: The surface shows a patina of excavation/shrine with earthy and oxidized deposits, typical of ritual metal objects preserved in family or initiates' altars.
2. Usage and Ritual Function
Due to its small size (15 cm), this object was not used to close a real domestic granary. It serves a very specific function:
• Votive Plate / Altar Object: These miniature panels are laid on ritual altars (Binu or ancestral Nommo altars). They serve as “symbolic doors” or receptacles for prayers.
• Protect the spiritual granary: In Dogon cosmogony, the granary is the center of the universe and life. Owning or offering a miniature replica of the sacralized panel aims to attract the protection of spirits over the family’s real harvests.
• Insignia or protective amulet: It could also belong to a building chief (Hogon) or a diviner as a ritual prestige object.
3. Decoding Iconographic Imagery
Each register sculpted in bas-relief traces fragments of the Dogon creation myth:
• The Primordial Ancestors (Nommo): Stylized human figures arranged across several registers represent mythical ancestors (Nommo) raising their arms or standing guard.
• Kanaga/Sirige Masks: The upper register presents figures evocative of the Kanaga mask (cross-like Lorraine shape with arms raised and lowered), symbolizing the junction between sky and earth.
• Spears and Trees of Life: In the center, vertical motifs shaped like spears recall the transmission of knowledge and weapons of spiritual protection.
• Sinusoidal Lines (Serpent / Water): The wavy friezes at the bottom and sides represent the sacred serpent (Lebe) and primordial water, guarantors of soil fertility and regeneration.
• The Miniature Locking System: On the right side one can discern the presence of a miniature spur/hasp, reminiscent of the traditional Dogon lock mechanism.
The objects are sent with insured shipping and tracking number.
Rapid and protected shipping. Parcels are sent Monday through Saturday.
Delivery within 1 to 3 days in France, 2 to 5 days across Europe.
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
Ethnic group/ culture
Dogon
Country of Origin
Mali
Period
Late 20th century
Material
Bronze
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Small attic hatch 15 cm / Altar object
Sold by
