Copper-alloy / bronze, lost-wax cast
Mid-20th century, circa 1940–1970
Height: 12 in. (without base)
This exquisitely detailed equestrian bronze from Mali captures everything that draws collectors to African sculpture: movement, authority, age, and unmistakable presence. A mounted warrior sits upright on a powerful horse, carrying a shield and weapon, while the entire composition is reduced to elegant, expressive forms. The long limbs, openwork bridle, patterned horse trappings, and sharply profiled head give the piece a dramatic silhouette that reads instantly, even from across the room.
Attributed to the Dogon artistic tradition, or made in that wider Dogon style, the figure belongs to a celebrated West African sculptural language in which the horse signaled rank, prestige, and power. This is not merely a rider on horseback. It is an image of command.
The bronze has an especially appealing surface, with a rich, varied patina and visible wear on the highest points, including the rider’s head and the horse’s ornament. That handling wear adds depth, character, and credibility, giving the sculpture the kind of lived-in surface collectors want to see. The casting remains lively and hand-worked, with none of the stiffness of modern decorative reproductions.
At 12 inches high without the base, this is an ideal size: substantial enough to command attention, yet versatile enough for a shelf, pedestal, or tabletop display. It is the kind of African bronze that works equally well in a serious collection or as a singular statement piece in a refined interior.
A memorable, sculptural, and highly decorative example of West African lost-wax casting.
Condition: Good.
Dimensions: (Height x Width x Depth) Overall figure on wood base 15.25 x 4.75 X 7.5 inches; figure only 12 x3 x 7.5 inches
Copper-alloy / bronze, lost-wax cast
Mid-20th century, circa 1940–1970
Height: 12 in. (without base)
This exquisitely detailed equestrian bronze from Mali captures everything that draws collectors to African sculpture: movement, authority, age, and unmistakable presence. A mounted warrior sits upright on a powerful horse, carrying a shield and weapon, while the entire composition is reduced to elegant, expressive forms. The long limbs, openwork bridle, patterned horse trappings, and sharply profiled head give the piece a dramatic silhouette that reads instantly, even from across the room.
Attributed to the Dogon artistic tradition, or made in that wider Dogon style, the figure belongs to a celebrated West African sculptural language in which the horse signaled rank, prestige, and power. This is not merely a rider on horseback. It is an image of command.
The bronze has an especially appealing surface, with a rich, varied patina and visible wear on the highest points, including the rider’s head and the horse’s ornament. That handling wear adds depth, character, and credibility, giving the sculpture the kind of lived-in surface collectors want to see. The casting remains lively and hand-worked, with none of the stiffness of modern decorative reproductions.
At 12 inches high without the base, this is an ideal size: substantial enough to command attention, yet versatile enough for a shelf, pedestal, or tabletop display. It is the kind of African bronze that works equally well in a serious collection or as a singular statement piece in a refined interior.
A memorable, sculptural, and highly decorative example of West African lost-wax casting.
Condition: Good.
Dimensions: (Height x Width x Depth) Overall figure on wood base 15.25 x 4.75 X 7.5 inches; figure only 12 x3 x 7.5 inches
