Female Figure
1 of 7
Object Label
Figures like this one were placed on ancestral altars as links to a deceased person’s soul. It is likely that this figure represents a Nommo, one of the first created beings, who, according to Dogon mythology, had a combination of male and female traits.
Caption
Dogon. Female Figure, early 17th century (probably). Diospyros wood, organic material, 15 3/4 x 2 7/8 x 3 in. (40.0 x 7.3 x 7.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.45. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Female Figure
Date
early 17th century (probably)
Geography
Place made: Central southern Bandiagara escarpment, Mopti Region, Mali
Medium
Diospyros wood, organic material
Classification
Dimensions
15 3/4 x 2 7/8 x 3 in. (40.0 x 7.3 x 7.8 cm)
Credit Line
The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection
Accession Number
1989.51.45
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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