# Female Figure

- By: Tellem (Mali)
- Date: Possibly 11th to 19th century
- Medium: Wood and sacrificial material
- Classification: Sculpture
- Dimensions: 49.2 × 6.7 × 6.9 cm (19 5/8 × 2 5/8 × 2 3/4 in.)
- Culture: Mali
- Credit line: Gift of Grace Hokin
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117839)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/bc73b5f0-4e58-56a9-182c-892272783437/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The raised arms, pared-down form, and crusty patina of this female figure are hallmarks of the Tellem sculptural style from Mali. Her pose has been interpreted as a plea for rain. Placed on an altar, the figure would have received offerings of sacrifices, resulting in the thick coating that imbued it with a vital energy. The Tellem, who occupied the arid region of the Bandiagara Escarpment from the 11th to the 16th century, are believed to be predecessors of contemporary Dogon people.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0