Ancestor statue - Blood, Wood, millet porridge - DEGE bras levé - Dogon - Mali

Function: standing, the legs bent as a sign of respect and the arms raised in a prayer posture, invoking heaven, this is an ancestor effigy, in charge of intervening for the community. Population: Dogon, Tellem, region of Toro, Bandiagara Cliffs. Material(s) : caecedra wood covered with sacrificial crust made of blood and crushed millet. Dimensions: 46 cm. State of preservation: in its original condition, the crust is in perfect condition, without break nor restoration. Description: the particular stylistic of this piece is reflected in the carving of the part covering the neck, the face and the breasts, which stands out from the rest of the piece, forming a projection of nervy lines, it presents much concentration. PROVENANCE: Keita family, dignitary of Kamablon, in the Mande country; Farafi Gallery in Aix en Provence; Keita Gallery in the Antiquarian market in the train station of l’Isles-sur-Sorgues.