Lot 281

Dogon Wooden Ladder, Mali, 20th Century

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Dogon Wooden Ladder, Mali, 20th Century

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000

Current Bid: $200

(1 Bid)

by Lion and Unicorn
July 16, 2026 2:00 PM EDT
Live Auction
200 Oakwood Ln
Suite 200
Hollywood, FL, US 33020

Hand-carved from a single tree trunk, this wood Dogon ladder from Mali exemplifies the iconic utilitarian and symbolic forms created by the Dogon people, featuring notched steps and a distinctive Y-shaped top designed for stability. Traditionally used to access cliffside dwellings, flat rooftops, and elevated granary doors, such ladders embody Dogon cosmology, with the Y-form symbolizing the interconnected realms of the underworld, earth, and sky. Both a functional architectural element and a powerful cultural symbol. This specific ladder gained contemporary recognition through its appearance in the 2018 film Ocean's 8. Provenance: Young Robertson Gallery, New York, June 15, 2016.

Dimensions: 86"H
Date or Era: 20th Century
Provenance: From the Private Collection of William Hughes Hayden

  • Condition: Good

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $9 $1
$10 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $4,999 $100
$5,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 $19,999 $500
$20,000 $49,999 $1,000
$50,000 $99,999 $2,500
$100,000 + $10,000