People/Culture: Dogon Region/Country: Mali Materials: Wood Dimensions: Height 94 cm (on custom metal stand, included) Dating: Early 20th century Provenance: Ex French private collection Condition: Age-consistent wear; minor losses, abrasions and age cracks here and there; surface polished by long use with rich, textured patina; stable overall — see photos. Stand: Custom metal stand included Description A functional object elevated by time and use, this Dogon animal tethering post was originally planted in the ground to secure livestock. Carved in a subtly anthropomorphic idiom, it presents a rounded cylindrical head above a finely ringed neck, descending into a slender, sketched silhouette. The heavy wood bears a beautiful, deeply worked patina, the surface rhythm of rings and wear marks giving the piece a quiet, ritual presence typical of Dogon artistry. Context Among the Dogon, posts of this type punctuated daily and ritual life—use-driven forms that blur the line between utility and sculpture. Their material poetry lies in the evidence of handling, weathering and repair, which this example displays to compelling effect. Highlights Classic Dogon tethering post with anthropomorphic reading Ringed neck, balanced volumes, rich patina Early 20th c.; custom stand included