Quadruped · Mali, Dogon · ID: 3037579
Description
light brown wood, dark brown patina, presumably depicting a dog, min. dam., breakage (right foreleg), cracks, slight traces of abrasion, base;
when the migrating Dogon arrived at the edge of the Bandiagara Cliff, they came into conflict with the Tellem, who jealously concealed the location of wells and water holes. Exhausted by their journey and parched by the draught, the Dogon saw one of their dogs come running with wet paws. They occupied the watering place discovered by the animal and, thus refreshed, were able to dislodge the Tellem from the Cliff. Depictions of dogs commemorate this important event in dogon history.
The object Quadruped with the object ID 3037579 was last part of the auction 78th tribal art auction at October 18, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 165.
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Comparing literature
Laude, Jean, African Art of the Dogon, New York 1973, ill. 54