Nommo Figure with Raised Arms
Dogon; or Tellem
1 of 2
Object Label
The Tellem are thought to have occupied the region of the Bandiagara escarpment until the sixteenth century. The human form with raised arms is a common pose for Tellem sculptures and is said to refer to prayers for rain, crucial in this dry region.
Caption
Dogon; or Tellem. Nommo Figure with Raised Arms, 11th–15th century (possibly). Wood, organic sacrificial materials, 10 1/2 x 2 7/8 x 1 3/4 in. (26.7 x 7.3 x 4.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.39. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Title
Nommo Figure with Raised Arms
Date
11th–15th century (possibly)
Geography
Place made: Mopti Region, Mali
Medium
Wood, organic sacrificial materials
Classification
Dimensions
10 1/2 x 2 7/8 x 1 3/4 in. (26.7 x 7.3 x 4.4 cm)
Credit Line
The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection
Accession Number
1989.51.39
Frequent Art Questions
Who are the Dogon?
The Dogon are a West African people living primarily in Mali. The Dogon are perhaps best known for their complex cosmology and retaining their traditional spirituality in a region that was largely converted to Islam.
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