"Ladder" is a piece of sculpture that began as a tool. The Dogon, a people of the central plateau region of Mali and among the oldest surviving cultures in Africa, built their homes into the sides of sandstone cliffs and reached them on ladders like this one: a teak trunk that forks at the top, with wedges carved in as footholds and the fork set against the wall for stability.
Retired from service, the ladder keeps its sculptural lines and natural patina, which is why Dogon ladders are prized as art far beyond Mali. The Dogon are celebrated above all for their wood carving, and this piece carries that tradition in working form. Comes complete with a custom stand.
