Dogon Equestrian Rock Figure Mali MATTER COLLECTION

Sculptural figure depicting a mounted rider carved from stone, attributed to the Dogon people of Mali. Horse and rider imagery in Dogon art often symbolizes status, leadership, and spiritual power. The simplified form and solid stone carving give the piece a strong, archaic presence. Figures like this reflect the importance of horsemanship and authority in West African artistic traditions.

Dogon art is not confined to a singular, fixed style, as discussions often portray it. Its age spans from as early as the 12th century to the present, encompassing various sub-styles within the identifiable core of Dogon art. The Dogon people engage in stylistic exchanges with neighboring groups, resulting in intriguing hybridism within these sub-styles. This sculpture serves as an example of how neighboring influences can impact the well-defined core of Dogon sculpture. To the west of the Dogon heartland, interactions with the Bamana people of Mali contribute to certain sculptural attributes, influenced by the Mande-speaking Bamana. These attributes include a squared body, keel-shaped head, and 'U'-shaped ears, resembling the work of a Bamana blacksmith. If genuinely a Dogon figure, it may represent an ancestor linked to an individual, family, village, or region. As an ancestor figure, it symbolizes either a familial ancestor or one of the original eight Nommo, who descended to earth, played a role in creation, and continue to be invested in the affairs of humanity.

Provenance: Matter Collection

From the collection of Margie and Phil Matter. Margie lived in South Africa, and later she and her husband Phil opened a gallery in Tucson. Everything in this collection was in their home for more than thirty years. Africa Direct recently bought the collection; at 95, Margie wants to share the things she has loved so much.