This gorgeous pair of small figures bears the hallmark characteristics of the Dogon style. Their heads feature flat jaws. The plane of their square shoulders is parallel to the plane of their forearms and upper thighs. They stand with their knees bent and their arms resting on their stomachs. Based on the compact size of this sculpture, it was most likely a personal work used for private religious rituals. It is even possible that it was meant as a sort of traveling altar that could accompany a caravan of traders during their voyages. An encrusted patina covering the pieces attests to their ceremonial significance. They were likely rubbed with libations of oil and animal blood and honored with sacrifices of food. Clearly, this pair possessed a spiritual power that was worthy of such reverence. Perhaps they represent the Nommo twins. The Nommo were mythical twins symbolic of the perfect union of the creator god, Amman, and the world egg. Many legends surround the Nommo, some contradictory, perhaps due to the inaccuracies of oral tradition. While the attribution of this pair is debatable, the beauty of these tiny masterpieces is not. A stunning example of the Dogon style in miniature form, this pair symbolizes the greater culture and artistry of the Dogon people themselves, one of the most celebrated tribes of sub-Saharan Africa.