A rare and ancient pair of male and female anthropomorphic statuettes. The highly stylized faces are flat sculpted, the bodies synthesized and geometric. The woman, taller than the man, sports a finely crenellated crested hairdo. This pair of sculptures has become iconic since Hélène Leloup chose them to illustrate Kibsi-style sculpture in her must-have book published by Hamez: Statuaire Dogon. Dogon (known as Dogon des plaines), Yatenga region, Séno plain, Mali Hardwood with red patina, visible missing parts on the back of each statuette, cracks and beautiful old oxidation, beautiful old sacrificial patina from use. H.: 27.5 and 30cm Provenance: Hélène Leloup Collection, Paris Passed on by descent Exhibition and Publications: Leloup, Statuaire Dogon, 1994, n°136 Leloup, Dogon, Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, Paris April 15 - July 24 2011, p.361, n°60