Figure Pair

A seated man leans forward while tenderly holding an individual who lies prone in his lap. This sculpture was made in Jenne-jeno, the oldest known city in sub-Saharan Africa that thrived between the 9th and 13th centuries. Little is known about the artistic traditions of this region, although archaeological evidence suggests works like this were venerated in sanctuaries and private homes. Situated on the banks of the Niger River, Jenne-jeno was an important stop on the trade routes that connected the gold fields of present-day Ghana and the Islamic kingdoms of North Africa.