Dogon equestrian
or horse and rider
figures
Dogon figures showing horses and riders depict the prestige and power surrounding an animal that has been associated with these
qualities since it was introduced into West Africa more than a thousand years ago.

In Dogon society, horses were generally considered a luxury reserved for rich or powerful people. Horses occur in Dogon beliefs
about the creation of the world and the horse and rider figures are seen as a symbol of a mythological personage.

The horse and rider figures theme is a common one found throughout the art of the Western Sudan, and is often seen in sculpture of
the Senufo and Bamana who neighbor the Dogon.
THIS FIGURE IS NO LONGER IN MY COLLECTION, IT ISNOW IN THE "Susan and Doug Rohrman collection"
(It's a wonderful figure and I wanted to keep the images on my website)

Dogon horse and rider figure
12" long x 10" tall x 4" wide
One leg had been previously broken but it sits well on the custom mount.
It's a fantastic example of these types of figures in my opinion.

It's an interesting abstract version of the horse and rider figures with a Tellum figure with raised arms on the horse. The raised arms are variously
believed to represent imploring rain, asking forgiveness for errors committed, or flying to caves, which the tellem were believed to be able to do by
raising arms.
An example in similar abstract style can be found further down on this page.

Examples of Tellum figures with raised arms for reference
Examples below for reference purposes only
An interesting thing about this figure:
This figure's left arm below the elbow and part of the rein, visible in the
photograph to the left, were found to be a modern restoration and have
recently been removed.
From the book: African Art in American Collections
Fig 32.  Dogon/Wood/32 in. (81.3 cm) Lester Wunderman
A photo I took of the equestrian figure at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY
A photo I took of a more abstract version at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY
From the book: African Art in American Collections
Fig 33. Dogon/Wood/22 in. (55.9 cm)
Stanford University Museum of Art
From the book: African Art in American Collections
Fig 34. Dogon/Wood, iron/25 l/2 in. (64.8 cm)
Private Collection, Los Angeles
From the book: African Art in American Collections
Fig 35. Dogon/Wood/36 in. (91.4 cm)
Robert and Adrian Mnuchin Collection
Jenne equestrian figures (Mali)
Between A.D. 900 and 1500 an earlier people, known through archaeological studies as well as legend, occupied areas now
inhabited by the Dogon. Bronze and fired clay artifacts have recently been excavated in the vicinity of the ancient town of
Jenne. A rare figure of wood survives from this culture.
From the book: African Art in American Collections
Fig 36. Jenne/Wood/28 3/4 in. (73 cm)
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
From the book: African Art in American Collections
Fig 37. Jenne/Fired clay/28 in. (71.1 cm)
Private Collection, Los Angeles
Bamana: Segu Style equestrian figure
The style of Bamana carving found near the town of Segu on the Niger River is characterized by convex facial profiles, paddlelike hands, and
geometric incising that may refer to scarification patterns, insignia, or items of adornment.
From the book: African Art in American Collections
Fig 70. Equestrian figure/Wood/22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm)
Private Collection, New York
14-3/8”H.
Carved, long slender figure has dome-shaped head with worn relief facial features, pointed breasts below rounded
shoulders, hands in front of angular pelvis, and short legs flank seat and horse. The horse of simple abstract form and
diminuitive size, with long legs and tail, and short head, has front legs, head and tail restored. Weathered light brown
patina, some blackened areas, few age cracks.

Provenance: Private Midwest collection, acquired more than 25 years ago.