Ceremonial container

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Description

wood, dark brown encrusted, partly oily patina, base in shape of a stylized horse, carrying a bellied vessel with lid and incised decor, crowned by an equestrian figure, rep. (breakage at the hind leg, left forearm), missing part (tip of the tail), fine cracks, traces of abrasion;
Dogon equestrian figures are most often identified as images of the “hogon”, since in Dogon society horses are a luxury generally reserved for rich and powerful people. Horses occur in Dogon beliefs about the creation of the world. Containers like the present were not used in everyday life; they were rather used at enthronement festivities of the “hogon”, where they served for food offerings.

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Comparing literature

Chemeche, George, The Horse Rider in African Art, Suffolk 2011, p. 58 f. Leloup, Hélène, Dogon, Paris 2011, p. 312 f.

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