Female Figure

Raised arms, pared-down forms, and crusty patinas are considered the hallmarks of the Tellem sculptural style. This figure’s pose has been interpreted as a plea for rain. Placed on an altar, it would have received offerings of sacrifices, resulting in the thick coating that imbued it with a vital energy. The Tellem, who occupied the arid region of the Bandiagara Escarpment from the 11th to the 16th century, are believed to be predecessors of contemporary Dogon people.