Artefacts

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

This is a very fine piece of Dogon lost wax technique from Mali. The horseman has a stylized head not unlike that of the Kala tribesman and sports a neat beard. The details on this statue are superb, the rope bridle has a complex twisted pattern and the warrior holds the reins. The horse is

This is a copy of a Benin bronze horses head, but nicely made and has a lovely patina. The head is incomplete with tantalizing gaps in the casting giving it a rather modern appearance. There is a lot of detail. The reins meet at the back of the nose and run to the neck where

This is said to be T’ang but in fact it is a replica made about 200 years ago to embellish the houses of merchants and aristocrats. It is made of terra cotta. The style of this horse is not unlike those of the late Han period as the design of the saddle is identical so

These statuettes were produced from potteries in Staffordshire from 1800’s to the 1900’s with a riot of subjects from famous criminals to royalty, sporting events, farming, entertainment. This statue is delightfully picturesque, showing a girl riding home with a hare. The hare was a symbol of fecundity, although these pieces were not conversational, just made

This is a copy of one of the Cheveaux de Marly, huge statues at the eastern end of the Champs Elysees where it meets the Place de la Concorde, Paris. They were made for Marly which was a hunting lodge or Rendezvous de Chasse for Louis XIV. They were moved to Paris where they can