Maternity figurine - African bronze - DJENNE / SONINKE - Mali

Very rare miniature maternity bronze, from the medieval city of Djenné in the Inner Delta of the Niger River. Superb composition of a kneeling mother protecting her child huddled against the chest, one hand on one breast, the other around her mother's waist. This bronze expresses the eternal theme of Africa for motherhood, for the fertility of women, symbol of universal fertility. All the details of the sculpture emerge from the old verdigris patina, oxidized in places. Former Belgian collection.