According to the origin myths of the Dogon, the god ‘Amma’ created four couples, the ‘Nommo’. They were ‘bringers of culture’ to mankind. These ‘Nommo’ are often represented in the sculptural art of the Dogon. They are shown as figural pairs, a male and female, or also as bisexual hermaphrodites, that is, male and female in one figure. The present ‘Nommo sculpture’ is female. Carved out of hard wood in a severe, clear, angular and abstracted 'Bombou-Toro-style' and originally probably coloured black and brown. With a tall crest in the crown of the head, round ears, an arrow-form, long nose, slitted eyes, small narrow mouth and a type of ‘lip post’ from the lower lip and chin pointing downwards; with jewellery indicated on both arms, pointed breasts, and with a double serrated crest along the dorsal line at the back. These ‘Nommo figures' were placed on altars and received ritual offerings (of millet and other things). This is visible on the clear traces of offerings over a long period of time on the Dogon figure presented here. Stylistically it is a very fine example, with a few small, slight cracks due to age. Otherwise no damage. H: 40 cm. Published in the book ‘Afrikanische Kunst’ by Tibor Bodrogi and Lajos Boglár, Verlag Anton Schroll, Vienna, and Corvina, Budapest, 1967: B/W fig. 8; here the provenance is listed as: ‘I. Rudnyánszky Collection, Budapest’. Provenance now: Hungarian Private Collection. (ME)

Lit.: 'Afrikanische Kunst' by T. Bodrogi & L. Boglár, fig. 8; 'Die Kunst des Schwarzen Afrika' by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, fig. 271; 'The Tribal Arts of Africa' by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 60, fig. 5.

additional image:
PHOTO from the book, “ AFRIKANISCHE KUNST” by Tibor Bodrogi and Lajos Boglár, published 1967: this picture shows exactly the same Dogon figure which is currently offered as Cat. No. 6 in the Tribal Art Auction in the DOROTHEUM WIEN. As provenance is listed in the book, “Sammlung I. Rudnyánszky, Budapest”.
Photo from: “AFRIKANISCHE KUNST” by Tibor Bodrogi & Lajos Boglár