Male figure, 17th-18th century, 19 3/4 x 5 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (50.17 x 13.34 x 12.07 cm), Wood, Mali, 17th-18th century, This musician has been playing his xylophone for more than 250 years. Among the oldest woodcarvings in these galleries, it was created by the Dogon people from Mali, who have a very old art tradition. Its dry surface and lack of a thick crust of offerings suggest that it was not used as an altarpiece, as many Dogon figures are. Instead, it was probably made as a reference to migrations long ago, when the ancestors of the Dogon left the Mali Empire around the 14th century.
Keywords:
Male figure, 17th-18th century, Wood, Mali, 17th-18th century, musician, playing, xylophone, 250 years, oldest woodcarvings, galleries, created, Dogon people, Mali, old art tradition, dry surface, lack, thick crust, offerings suggest, altarpiece, Dogon figures, Instead, reference, migrations long ago, ancestors, Dogon left, Mali Empire, 14th century
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