Details
ITEM NAME:
Dogon Nduleri Figure
ITEM #:
4035
ETHNICITY:
Dogon
ORIGIN:
Mali
MEDIUM:
Wood
DIMENSIONS:
23 inches tall (58.4 cm)
CONDITION:
Very Good.
PROVENANCE:
Private Estate Collection – Florida, USA.
CATALOGUE NOTE:
The Dogon people live on a large plateau, with most of the villages situated on cliffs to the north and east. According to their oral tradition, the Dogon people settled in in this area between the 14th and 15th centuries after escaping from the Mande kingdom. Legend has it that a snake led them to the plateau, where they overwhelmed the Tellem and Niongom people already in the area. They later laid down weapons and live in harmony with the Tellem in their villages and through marriages the two peoples effectively became one over time.
Dogon statues like this are referred to as Nommo, and are predominantly associated with the ancestor cult and are carved for either personal or family user, if they commemorate the foundation of a community, are worshiped by the village.
This Nduleri style nommo figure comes from the western side of the plateau.
