Dogon Iron Stool Mali

This Dogon iron stool is a refined example of West African metalwork and a potent expression of Dogon cosmology. Although many African stools are carved from wood, the Dogon also forged iron versions of objects requiring exceptional skill and reserved for figures of high status.

Created by specialist blacksmiths, who hold powerful ritual roles in Dogon society, the stool features a concave seat and elegantly tapered supports. Its minimalist, architectural form and subtle hammer marks highlight both technical mastery and aesthetic restraint.

Blacksmiths are closely connected to Dogon creation myths, believed to share an identity with the Nommo, primordial beings created by the deity Ama. This bond grants them special spiritual powers, including the ability to call down rain, and positions them as mediators between humans and the spirit world. Iron stools and related metal figures were often placed in Binu sanctuaries, sacred spaces where magically potent objects were kept.

Prestige items used by elders and ritual leaders, Dogon iron stools continue to be admired today for their cultural depth and sculptural presence, resonating strongly with modernist design.