DOGON, Mali, 19th century - Lot 62

DOGON, Mali, 19th century Serpentine pillar from a toguna house ending in a Y, decorated in relief with a female figure with a cord around her waist. The face is discreetly sketched, with angular, pure features. Wood, very old patina, marks of use, weathering. Height Height : 156 cm Width : 48 cm Note. In Dogon society, the pillars of the toguna house not only support the physical structure of the palaver house: they also embody symbolic principles, linked to cosmic order, fertility and the memory of ancestors. This serpentine pillar may evoke telluric forces or the link between the earth and the spirit world. The feminine figure reinforces its protective and nurturing role in the community.