Vintage, Dogon, Mali Cast Bronze Warrior Riding Horse/5 1/2”H

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Vintage, Dogon, Mali Cast Bronze Warrior Riding Horse/5 1/2”H:
$225.00

Old, African cast bronze sculpture, 5 1/2”H & 5”W, from the Dogon in Mali. The piece is beautifully made, with details such as the horses bridle, and the rider’s shield, staff, and pack over his shoulder. Bronze has a nice color and patina, and shows signs of use and age.
Figures depicting horse and riders reflect the prestige and power surrounding an animal that has been associated with royalty since the horses were introduced to Western Africa more than 1,000 years ago. The horse and its rider also occur in Dogon beliefs about the creation of the world.
Bronze casting has a long history in Africa, going back to the 14th or 15th century, and culminating in the beautiful bronze wall plaques in Benin that record the images of the warriors that fought in the service of the Oba, King of Benin. I was told by an African friend that the bronze works I was recently able to buy, had various meanings for the individuals who owned them. Many would have been taken into the“society house” (similar to a meeting place, church, shrine) and used for rituals and personal issues.
I put a very light coat ofRenaissance Wax”, developed and used by the British Museum to protect items in their collections, on this piece for protection of the patina.
Watch for the other wonderful bronze works I bought and will list. _gsrx_vers_566 (GS 6.7.1 (566))