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Source Description
This ring may have belonged to a Hogon, the highest religious dignitary in a Dogon community, who wore it among the many insignia of his status. The horse is a kind of moving throne, indicating the physical and symbolic power of its rider, who is placed physically in space above others. While it is difficult to make out details on the rider, the horse is well-equipped with a bridle and saddle. The circular shapes at the front and back of the animal's sides may represent shields. To make this ring, a smith first modeled it in wax. The wax was covered in clay and melted out when baked, leaving behind a mold to pour liquid metal into.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
148019
label
Ring
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
148019
contentType
object
title
Ring
description
This ring may have belonged to a Hogon, the highest religious dignitary in a Dogon community, who wore it among the many insignia of his status. The horse is a kind of moving throne, indicating the physical and symbolic power of its rider, who is placed physically in space above others. While it is difficult to make out details on the rider, the horse is well-equipped with a bridle and saddle. The circular shapes at the front and back of the animal's sides may represent shields. To make this ring, a smith first modeled it in wax. The wax was covered in clay and melted out when baked, leaving behind a mold to pour liquid metal into.
date
before 1975
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79927955
genreSpecific
Jewelry
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Diameter: 6.4 x 1.7 cm (2 1/2 x 11/16 in.)
cul
Africa, West Africa, Mali, Dogon-style maker
accession
1975.1008
Source extras
tec
Copper alloy
tombstone
Ring, before 1975. Africa, West Africa, Mali, Dogon-style maker. Copper alloy; diameter: 6.4 x 1.7 cm (2 1/2 x 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Harold T. Clark Educational Extension Fund, 1975.1008
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
Horses were known in the region of present-day Mali from early eras, recorded in the accounts of the Arab traveler Ibn Battuta in 1352, and in the Malian epic <em>Soundiata</em>, where riders on horseback masterfully used lances and swords
creditline
The Harold T. Clark Educational Extension Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 07:36:13.304000
sourceId
148019
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Copper alloy
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
6f19aaec321ee361