Dogon Ladder

Dogon ladders are carved from a single piece of wood, usually a forked tree trunk, with steps cut directly into the form. In Dogon life they served a range of everyday and architectural purposes, moving people between the raised granaries that store millet and the family's other living levels on the Bandiagara escarpment. The shaping and patina of these ladders reflect decades of daily climbing, with the polished surfaces of the steps holding a physical record of use. This piece stands over six feet tall and came from a private New York collection.