altar figure - Wood - maternité - Dogon - Mali

FUNCTION: this object placed on the family altar receives offerings as a sign of gratitude for the female ancestors symbolizing motherhood, foster-mother for the whole clan. POPULATION: Dogon from the region of Toro, the Bandiagara Cliffs, in Mali. MATERIAL: African mahogany hardwood, traces of earth, DIMENSIONS: 65 cm. STATE OF PRESERVATION: there is a little minor missing piece on one of the braids on the left-hand side, no major damage nor restoration performed. ESTIMATED PERIOD: middle of the 20th century, circa 1950s/1960s. ORIGIN: estate of former African art dealer André Defyn; Farafi gallery specializing in the Arts of Mali for twenty-five years; Keita gallery in the ‘Village des Antiquaires de la gare’ in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (France) where the piece will be visible during the sale. Careful shipment via registered express parcel (Colissimo) including a certificate with a picture and the abovementioned description.