Dogon
Bandiagara region, Mali
Northern Africa and the Sahel
Male Figure
INV-1443
Dogon
Bandiagara region, Mali
Northern Africa and the SahelPossibly 18th century
dogonArts of Africaafrican ArtNorthern Africa and the Sahelsculpturewood
Date
Possibly 18th century
Medium
Wood, pigment, and sacrificial material
Dimensions
99.7 × 15.6 × 16.6 cm (39 1/4 × 6 1/8 × 6 1/2 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Janie Brill Memorial Fund; Major Acquisitions Centennial Endowment
Made for a large altar honoring ancestors, this figure’s crusty surface resulted from repeated ritual applications of sacrificial materials including animal blood, millet porridge, plant juice, and oil, infusing it with a vital energy. Its braided hairstyle, thin beard, amulet-pendant, and ritual staff (on his left shoulder) suggest that this figure portrays a high-ranking man. The extremely dry environment of the cave where it was stored helped to preserve it.
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