Figure

Item number 3035/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
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Description

Small brass figurine. Figure has a large head--a sharp wedge in cross section, wide in depth, with a narrow face--and carved slits for eyes, ears and mouth. Large breasts protrude to the front, as does the narrow, pointed belly. The figure stands with knees and arms bent, hands gripping a tall pole that sits in a small bowl attached to a rectangular platform at bottom.

History Of Use

One interpretation of this figure is that it immortalizes an aspect of a Dogon woman's work during her lifetime. These sculptures can often be seen on a family's ancestral altar, further honouring a woman's labour and how intertwined her role is with her lineage's survival. During the funeral orations a woman is often compared to a wooden stirring tool that becomes shorter due to heavy use over time; the mortar and pestle on this figure are potentially a visual representation of the wooden stirring tool, depicting a woman's continuous labour for her community.