Dogon Tellem figure - PRIVATE
€2,380.00
A magnificent example of one of the finest pieces of African art: Tellem statuary (proto-Dogon).
The traditional Tellem statues, produced by the first inhabitants of the Bandiagara Escarpment in Mali, constitute one of the oldest surviving examples of African tribal art in wood, dating primarily from the 11th to the 15th centuries.
The term "Tellem," meaning "those who were here before us" in the Dogon language, refers to this mysterious people who preceded the Dogon settlement in this rugged region.
Their art, discovered in caves and rock shelters, is characterized by stylized forms, elongated volumes, and a thick, dark, crusty patina, the result of centuries spent in extreme climatic conditions and repeated rituals.
One of the most striking features of Tellem statuary is the posture of the arms outstretched towards the sky, as seen on this example.
This gesture, later adopted by the Dogon, is interpreted as a supplication: it can symbolize a call for rain, essential for agriculture in this semi-arid region, or a prayer addressed to ancestors and deities for protection and fertility. According to some sources, this posture also evokes communication with the world of spirits and the deceased, the raised arms forming a kind of bridge between earth and sky, between the living and the invisible forces. It also recalls the Dogon myth of the Nommo, ancestral spirits linked to the creation of the world and the cosmic order.
The thick, crusty patina covering these statues is the result of several phenomena: prolonged exposure to the smoke of ritual fires, libations (liquid offerings), anointing with oils and sacrificial blood, as well as natural erosion due to the humidity of the caves.
This patina is not only a sign of age, but also the tangible trace of religious practices and sacrifices that activated the object's spiritual power.
Scientific analyses of these patinas have revealed the presence of organic and mineral residues, confirming their intensive ritual use and their central role in the social and religious life of the Tellem people.
The artistic heritage of the Tellem profoundly influenced Dogon statuary, notably through the adoption of motifs and postures, but also through the sacred and initiatory dimension associated with these objects. Today, Tellem statues are considered treasures of ancient African art, sought after for their rarity, their understated beauty, and their historical significance.
This remarkable statue comes from the collection of B. Berete, a highly experienced dealer and collector who worked in Switzerland, Belgium, and the United States, notably with Pierre Dartevelle.
02639
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- 42 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood, sacrificial materials
- Country
- Origin
- B. Berete Collection
- Stand
- Included
- Condition
- Vintage
A magnificent example of one of the finest pieces of African art: Tellem statuary (proto-Dogon).
The traditional Tellem statues, produced by the first inhabitants of the Bandiagara Escarpment in Mali, constitute one of the oldest surviving examples of African tribal art in wood, dating primarily from the 11th to the 15th centuries.
The term "Tellem," meaning "those who were here before us" in the Dogon language, refers to this mysterious people who preceded the Dogon settlement in this rugged region.
Their art, discovered in caves and rock shelters, is characterized by stylized forms, elongated volumes, and a thick, dark, crusty patina, the result of centuries spent in extreme climatic conditions and repeated rituals.
One of the most striking features of Tellem statuary is the posture of the arms outstretched towards the sky, as seen on this example.
This gesture, later adopted by the Dogon, is interpreted as a supplication: it can symbolize a call for rain, essential for agriculture in this semi-arid region, or a prayer addressed to ancestors and deities for protection and fertility. According to some sources, this posture also evokes communication with the world of spirits and the deceased, the raised arms forming a kind of bridge between earth and sky, between the living and the invisible forces. It also recalls the Dogon myth of the Nommo, ancestral spirits linked to the creation of the world and the cosmic order.
The thick, crusty patina covering these statues is the result of several phenomena: prolonged exposure to the smoke of ritual fires, libations (liquid offerings), anointing with oils and sacrificial blood, as well as natural erosion due to the humidity of the caves.
This patina is not only a sign of age, but also the tangible trace of religious practices and sacrifices that activated the object's spiritual power.
Scientific analyses of these patinas have revealed the presence of organic and mineral residues, confirming their intensive ritual use and their central role in the social and religious life of the Tellem people.
The artistic heritage of the Tellem profoundly influenced Dogon statuary, notably through the adoption of motifs and postures, but also through the sacred and initiatory dimension associated with these objects. Today, Tellem statues are considered treasures of ancient African art, sought after for their rarity, their understated beauty, and their historical significance.
This remarkable statue comes from the collection of B. Berete, a highly experienced dealer and collector who worked in Switzerland, Belgium, and the United States, notably with Pierre Dartevelle.