A VERY LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE DOGON CONTAINER, MALI.

First half of the 20th century, of cylindrical in form, the vessel is elaborately carved with repeating figural motifs around the body and a base ringed with standing male and female figures. The domed lid is surmounted by a dramatic tableau of equine riders, representing noble ancestors or hunters, The sides of the container are deeply incised with zigzag and chevron motifs, symbolising water, fertility, and ancestral movement, 163cm high 44cm diameter

Provenance - Private UK Collection,

Note - For similar examples see Bishop & Miller lot 3692467 & 4069274.

Note - The Dogon people of central Mali are widely known for their cosmology, sculptural language, and architectural carving. Objects such as this vessel are not purely utilitarian. Instead, they serve as spiritual containers, holding symbolic power through their form and motifs. Vessels of this kind were used in initiation houses, lineage shrines, or as granary guardians, where food and spiritual knowledge were intertwined.