Ring - Dogon Culture, Mali - 19th Century

RING whose bezel is animated by a RIDER resting on a circular base incised with concentric circles. The character holds a roundel in his left hand and the reins of his mount in his right hand.
Dogon culture, Mali, 19th century Copper alloy; Long. : 6 ; L.: 5.8 cm

These rings, reserved for dignitaries, were not intended to be worn on the finger but as pendants.
The rider, symbol of prestige, wealth and power, is an important figure in Dogon culture. The horse, in addition to being the prerogative of the wealthiest, refers to Dogon mythology and the creation of the world: it would be the first animal to come out of the Ark built by the First Ancestor to descend to Earth. These equestrian images can also be associated with the Hogon, the spiritual leader of the village.

No. 41 of the exhibition-sale “Bronzes, monumental miniatures”.