Finial or Scepter w/Geometric & Human Imagery

Origin: Dogon Tribe, Mali
Composition: wood, natural materials

The original function of this piece remains a mystery. It is not a staff, a door lock, or the finial to a weapon, despite its similarities to them all. Possibly a scepter wielded by a hogon or someone of high authority, it depicts one of the original male-female ancestor pairs (nyommo) who were the founders of the Dogon tribe. It is masterfully carved throughout, and shows evidence of repeated libations. A completely unique piece, with evidence of ritual use. Early-mid 20th century; excellent collector’s piece. 

The 250,000 Dogon people live on a large plateau, with most of the villages situated on cliffs to the north and the east. According to Dogon oral tradition, the tribe settled in this area between the 14th and the 15th centuries, after escaping from the Mande kingdom. Legend has it that a snake led them to the cliff at the southern end of the plateau, where they overwhelmed and usurped the local Tellem and Niongom populations. The Dogon livelihood is base on agriculture concentrated in fields at the edge of the cliff, where water is scarce, but enough for occasional irrigation. Dogon social and religious organizations are closely interlinked and out of these arose four principal cults which account for the richness and diversity of Dogon culture. (Passage from Tribal Arts of Africa).