Dogon altar with seven female figures — Dogon, Mali — African tribal art — Ref. 224

Description

This Dogon sculpture presents seven women, each with her hands placed on her sex, supporting an urn on their heads. This type of representation is common in Dogon art, and each element of the work carries strong symbolic meaning.

The gesture of the hands placed on the sex is generally associated with fertility, fecundity and the protection of life. It reinforces the link between woman, earth and the cycle of life. The presence of seven women may refer to a cosmological or mythological aspect, as the number seven is often symbolic in Dogon beliefs, particularly in relation to natural cycles or ancestors. These women probably embody protective or nurturing figures, representing the vital role of women in the continuation of life and in the connection with spirituality.

The urn carried on the women’s heads may symbolise a sacred vessel or a funerary urn, suggesting a connection with the ancestors or the world of spirits. In Dogon culture, the head is often regarded as the seat of the soul and spiritual awareness. The fact that these women carry the urn may indicate their role as guardians or mediators between the world of the living and that of the ancestors.

Together, this sculpture may symbolise fertility, spiritual protection and the connection with ancestors, central themes in Dogon cosmology.

Technical details

Availability

Unavailable

Type of piece

Statuette

Category

Ritual objects

Ethnic group

Dogon

Country

Mali

Materials

wood

Dimensions

H 45 × W 23 × D 23 cm

Weight

6,1 kg

Estimated dating

second half 20th c.

Laboratory test

Not tested

Reference

224