Necklace
1 of 2
Object Label
Among the Dogon, jewelry often serves as much more than personal adornment. For example, bracelets, rings, and necklaces might signify that the owner is linked to ancestors or spiritual leaders, or identify the wearer as a priest or a caretaker of a particular altar. The two seated figures on this necklace or collar most likely represent Nommo, the original beings created by the god Amma, who may be represented by the central face. The necklace was probably worn by a hogon, an important priest.
Caption
Dogon. Necklace, 11th–15th century (?). Copper alloy, 9 x 9 x 1 in. (22.9 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm) Diameter: 9in. (22.9cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Jacob M. Kaplan, 74.67. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 74.67_PS2.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Necklace
Date
11th–15th century (?)
Geography
Place made: Mopti Region, Mali
Medium
Copper alloy
Classification
Dimensions
9 x 9 x 1 in. (22.9 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm) Diameter: 9in. (22.9cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Jacob M. Kaplan
Accession Number
74.67
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
Frequent Art Questions
Who are the Dogon?
The Dogon are a West African people living primarily in Mali. The Dogon are perhaps best known for their complex cosmology and retaining their traditional spirituality in a region that was largely converted to Islam.
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