Dogon altar figure - Figura - Mali

This Dogon statuette, mounted on a circular base, has narrow shoulders and missing arms. A hand rests on a slender bust decorated with irregular reliefs. These sculptures, often linked to an individual cult, adorned Dogon family altars. The patina is black and grainy, marked by a few abrasions.

Dogon statues were generally commissioned by families, but may also be venerated by the community as a whole. However, their exact function remains unclear. In parallel with Islam, Dogon religious rites are based around four main cults: the Lébé, linked to fertility and led by the Hogon; the Wagem, dedicated to the ancestors under the authority of the patriarch; the Binou, which appeals to the spirit world and is supervised by the Binou priest; and the mask society, linked to funeral rites.

Provenance:

Lemaire Gallery, Amsterdam 1990
Van Eyck Collection, Amsterdam