Mega Rare Antique African Tribal Dogon Cast Bronze Unusual Men Riding Men statue

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Mega Rare Antique African Tribal Dogon Cast Bronze Unusual Men Riding Men statue:
$309.23

Exquisite, Highly OrnamentedAntique Dogon(circa mid- late 1800s), Cast Bronze Rider

From the old privatecollection of the internationally celebrated artist and ardent Africanist.

This is a rare, museum quality authenticartifact (circa mid- late 1800s). The item is about 5\"high, in excellentantique condition.

The bronze is cast overthe stone into the form of aMen riding another menandhaveamazing details and a fine old used patina.

The stone comes fromthe important ancestors\' memorial site. The bronze is cast over thestone. These pieces bring wealth, prosperity, good health and well-beingto the owner and to the village. Those sculptures usually kept on the altar tothe ancestors\' and brought together for the festivals in the village.

General agreement amongdealers and collectors is these figures date from theearly 1800\'s. Theymight be earlier but I can\'t confirm this.

Dogon art isextremely versatile, although common stylistic characteristics – such as atendency towards stylization – are apparent on the statues. Their art dealswith the myths whose complex ensemble regulates the life of the individual. Thesculptures are preserved in innumerable sites of worship, personal or familyaltars, altars for rain, altars to protect hunters, in market. As a generalcharacterization of Dogon statues, one could say that they render the humanbody in a simplified way, reducing it to its essentials. Some are extremelyelongated with emphasis on geometric forms. The subjective impression is one ofimmobility with a mysterious sense of a solemn gravity and serene majesty,although conveying at the same time a latent movement. Dogon sculpturerecreates the hermaphroditic silhouettes of the Tellem, featuring raised armsand a thick patina made of blood and millet beer. The four Nommo couples, themythical ancestors born of the god Amma, ornament stools, pillars or men’smeeting houses, door locks, and granary doors. The primordial couple isrepresented sitting on a stool, the base of which depicts the earth while theupper surface represents the sky; the two are interconnected by the Nommo.Horsemen are remainders of the fact that, according to myth, the horse was thefirst animal present on earth. The Dogon style has evolved into a kind ofcubism: ovoid head, squared shoulders, tapered extremities, pointed breasts,forearms, and thighs on a parallel plane, hairdos stylized by three or fourincised lines. Dogon sculptures serve as a physical medium in initiations andas an explanation of the world. They serve to transmit an understanding to theinitiated, who will decipher the statue according to the level of theirknowledge. Carved animal figures, such as dogs and ostriches, are placed onvillage foundation altars to commemorate sacrificed animals, while granarydoors, stools and house posts are also adorned with figures and symbols