Figure - woman

The figurine represents a woman with a vessel on her head. In the Dogon, as in many African peoples, there is a strict division of labour based on gender. According to the rules, pottery is the domain of women – blacksmiths’ wives. The occupation is their additional work performed as part of their daily occupation, because the potter, like every other Dogon woman, is first and foremost a housewife taking care of her family, children and household. Pottery production, although fulfilling an important role and providing an additional source of income, is only one of the many activities of the blacksmith's wife. Pottery making is dependent on the weather. The greatest activity of potters is observed in the dry season, from October to May, when conditions are best that allow the modelled pots to dry before firing. The potters of the Dogon make their vessels from local clay of alluvial origin. In West Africa the potter's wheel is not used, the clay is modelled only by hand. In order to obtain perfectly spherical dishes, they use a very rare technique of striking the clay mass with a round stone. The basic tools are a slightly concave trough-shaped stone slab, a woven mat (piri) and a set of pebbles which act as beaters. Making clay vessels is a highly valued skill among the Dogon, as it is reminiscent of the creation of the earth and the formation of the first pair of people by the god Amma, which took place in mythical times.

Ewa Prądzyńska