Antique African Ceremonial Vessel

Circa 19th Century Dogon ceremonial vessel. The Dogon, an ancient tribe living in Mali, West Africa. They claim to be the living conduit between heaven and earth and to possess not only knowledge of the cosmos but of man's true origin. The handles of this finely detailed piece are carved to resemble a horses head at one end and tail at the other with the vessel as the horses body. This dish, or arc of the world represents the arc of Dogon mythology in which Monno the father of humankind and various other gods came down to earth. Approximate dimensions: 7.5h x 22w x 6d