COLLECTION OF FOUR MINIATURE DOGON LADDERS
MALI
Estimate: £300 - £500
Auction: 13 March 2025 from 13:00 GMT
Description
carved wood, each carved from a single piece of wood, displaying a slender form adorned with spaced rectangular rungs and dual short protrusions above, raised on bespoke wooden mounts (4)
Dimensions
tallest 33.2cm
Provenance
Private collection, London, United Kingdom
Footnote
Dogon ladders, once purely functional, provided access to the flat rooftops of homes, which served as spaces for storage, living, and seasonal sleeping. Miniature versions, though closely resembling their full-sized counterparts, were solely spiritual in purpose. Placed on domestic altars, these shrine or spirit ladders symbolised the soul’s ascent to the afterlife, allowing the deceased to join their ancestors.