Mali
Dogon

Bronze 
Mid 20th Century
Length: 5 inches
Idiophone – Struck Indirectly – Shaken -Rattle

A Dogon anthropomorphic brass openwork (lantern-shaped) rattle from Mali.  It depicts an ancestor sitting on his knees with stones inside the open rib structure. It was most likely used for ritual purposes and is not a musical instrument.

The ancient Dogon tribes are known for their religious traditions, their ritual dances, their massive ritual masks, their wooden sculptures, and their architecture.