An old, elegant sculpture of the Dogon, carved from very hard, light-coloured wood. It has a long, slender head, a long arrow shaped nose, a small mouth and decorative scarification marks next to both corners of the mouth. It also displays an accentuated chin, a crested coiffure and plaits on both sides of her face. The long, slender body has pointed breasts, an accentuated navel, long, thin and bent arms. Her hands rest on her thighs. The figure kneels on a plinth carved out from the same piece. This is all typical of the ‘N’duleri style’, from the north central plateau of the Bandiagara mountains in the east of Mali.
Such kneeling female figures stand on altars in Dogon houses, where they receive sacrificial offerings (millet gruel and similar things). They had ritual sacred functions as part of raising girls (through female societies) and at funerals. They were then taken from the altars and placed at the head of the grave. Here was their true purpose – to lead the soul of the deceased into the afterlife, the world of their ancestors. After the funeral they were placed back onto the altars. The present 'N’duleri kneeling woman' shows a beautiful, old, shiny usage patina and, in some parts, encrusted sacrificial patina, especially on the front side, from many sacrificial offerings.
An unusually complete piece, with no significant damage. Height: 45 cm; width: c. 9 cm (base). Between c. 1900 and the first third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Private Collection Prof. Dr. Rudolf Leopold, Vienna.

Lit.:
'Dogon' by Hélène Leloup, p. 352, ill. 12, 13, 14, 15.