Artefacts

This funeral headrest was made by the Dogon tribe of Mali this unusual piece expresses the wealth of the person for whom it was intended. The three horses heads set at the corners are quite primitive in design but they are still unmistakably horses. On the base is a cross symbolizing the country of Mali.

This votive statue is made by the Dogon people in Mali and depicts a warrior with ancestor in hand. Ancestor veneration is an important part of their socio-religious practice and many statues contain references to this. In Mali the redwoods have been protected from felling since 1960’s, this piece is made from a redwood which

This statue is of a warrior with a spear in hand was purchased in Mali, and is the work of the Senufo tribe. It would kept on the altar. They would put this statue at the entrance of a village at a time of war when it was necessary to gather the villages to defend

This early piece is in brass with two riders with the male holding the spear. The partnership of male and female is a central theme in the art of the Dogon tribe in Mali. The woman with her restraining hand on her husbands shoulder celebrates the importance of the family and respect for female wisdom.

This is an Equestrian statue of a Kala nobleman from Ségou, Mali. This is an impressive piece of masterful carving. Stylized to depict a nobleman with a pointed headdress both horse and master are proud of their position in society. The ownership of a horse is already a status symbol. His hands suggest the recognition

This statue from Mali is roughly carved and very worn. It is of a woman sitting on the back of a horse. It has a special significance as it represents the myth of the leaving of the Ark after the floods have subsided. It is a statement about survival and procreation. It provides an insight

This Dogon warrior from Mali is beautifully carved. The beard is delightfully stylistic and the head round. It represents a wealthy man, as only the wealthy could afford horses. Wealth in Mali is judged by possessions, cattle, sheep and the ability to have many wives. Judging by the weight the statue is made from a redwood

This interesting statue of a warrior from Mali has been made to resemble a colonist. The hat is the style worn by the French colonists. The white man in Africa is often given the status of a God, not unlike the assumption made by the Aztecs when they saw the Spanish soldiers. They believed that

This Jewellery box from Dogon country in Mali is supported by a horse. On the lid of the box is a cross symbolizing the country of Mali. Maybe the box was used to hold votive jewellery or the votive rings used in ceremonies and in shamanistic ceremonies. The use of the horse motive symbolizes wealth.

This simplified statue is made of iron. It comes from Dogon country the raised hand would indicate the veneration of an ancestor. There is a great variety of artistic styles in Mali. It is precisely this variety that makes collecting them so interesting. Although simple, this statue has great charm. The warrior sits in a