{"secondaryobjectnumber":null,"periodterms":[],"creditline":"Bequest of John B. Elliott, Class of 1951","caption":"Dogon artist, Mali, Western Africa, Miniature ladder for a binu shrine, 20th century. Wood and organic materials; 39.3 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm. Bequest of John B. Elliott, Class of 1951 (1998-579)","cultureterms":[{"id":2041478,"culture":"African"},{"id":2042328,"culture":"Dogon"}],"type":"artobject","dimensionsproposed":"","terms":[{"id":2054791,"term":"sculpture","aatid":300047090,"termtype":"Classification"},{"id":2084870,"term":"shrines","aatid":300007558,"termtype":"Subject"},{"id":2143322,"term":"ladders","aatid":300022376,"termtype":"Classification"},{"id":2041478,"term":"African","aatid":300015647,"termtype":"Culture"},{"id":2042328,"term":"Dogon","aatid":300015855,"termtype":"Culture"},{"id":2156347,"term":"carving","aatid":300053149,"termtype":"Techniques"},{"id":2045288,"term":"blood (animal material)","aatid":300011797,"termtype":"Materials"},{"id":2045920,"term":"wood","aatid":300011914,"termtype":"Materials"},{"id":2162669,"term":"mineral","aatid":300011068,"termtype":"Materials"},{"id":2164667,"term":"organic material","aatid":300011792,"termtype":"Materials"}],"geography":[{"displaygeography":"Place made: Africa, Mali","code":"Place made","continent":"Africa","subcontinent":"Western Africa","country":"Mali","region":null,"state":null,"city":null,"county":null,"subregion":null,"locale":null,"locus":null,"river":null,"excavation":null,"geoname":"http://www.geonames.org/2453866/republic-of-mali.html","location":{"lat":"","lon":""}}],"dimensionelements":[{"element":"Overall","type":"Height","units":"centimeters","dimension":"39.30"},{"element":"Overall","type":"Width","units":"centimeters","dimension":"2.50"},{"element":"Overall","type":"Depth","units":"centimeters","dimension":"2.50"}],"markings":null,"accessionyear":"1998-01-01","newaccession":0,"makers":[{"id":15334,"displayname":"Dogon","displaydate":null,"datebegin":0,"dateend":0,"prefix":null,"suffix":"artist","role":"Artist","displaymaker":"Dogon artist","displayorder":1}],"datecomputed":1950,"signed":null,"restrictions":null,"classification":"Sculpture","packages":[],"catalograisonne":null,"classifications":[{"id":2054791,"classification":"sculpture"},{"id":2143322,"classification":"ladders"}],"exhibitions":[],"cultures":[],"primaryimage":["https://media.artmuseum.princeton.edu/iiif/3/collection/INV008236"],"displaytitle":"Miniature ladder for a binu shrine","displayculture":null,"displaymaker":"Dogon artist","captionhtml":"Dogon artist, Mali, Western Africa, <i>Miniature ladder for a binu shrine</i>, 20th century. Wood and organic materials; 39.3 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm. Bequest of John B. Elliott, Class of 1951 (1998-579)","displaydate":"20th century","medium":"Wood and organic materials","media":[{"id":1787,"uri":"https://media.artmuseum.princeton.edu/iiif/3/collection/1998-579_GS","isprimary":0,"rank":0,"mediatypeid":1,"mediaviewtype":"(not assigned)","restrictions":null,"caption":"Luna Digitization Project"},{"id":42893,"uri":"https://media.artmuseum.princeton.edu/iiif/3/collection/INV008236","isprimary":1,"rank":1,"mediatypeid":1,"mediaviewtype":"(not assigned)","restrictions":null,"caption":"Inventory Project"}],"displayperiod":null,"extended_content":false,"campuscollections":"false","bibliography":[{"boilertext":"\"Selected checklist of objects in the collection of African art,\" <em>Record of the Art Museum, Princeton University</em> 58, no. 1/2 (1999): p. 77–83.","citation":"\"Selected checklist of objects in the collection of African art,\" <em>Record of the Art Museum, Princeton University</em> 58, no. 1/2 (1999): p. 77–83., p. 78","date":1999,"id":3043,"uri":"https://www.jstor.org/stable/3774794"},{"boilertext":"<p>\"The checklist of the John B. Elliott Bequest,\" <em>Record of the Princeton University Art Museum </em>61 (2002): p. 49-99.</p>","citation":"<p>\"The checklist of the John B. Elliott Bequest,\" <em>Record of the Princeton University Art Museum </em>61 (2002): p. 49-99.</p>, p. 63","date":2002,"id":3025,"uri":"https://www.jstor.org/stable/3774767"}],"nowebuse":"False","periods":[],"department":"African and Oceanic Art","attribute_groups":[{"id":2199315,"term":"African Art","termtype":"Collecting Area"}],"daterange":"A.D. 1945-present","dateend":1999,"depicted":[],"titles":[{"title":"Miniature ladder for a binu shrine","titletype":"Primary Title","displayorder":1}],"hasimage":"true","creditlinerepro":"","objectnumber":"1998-579","inscribed":null,"texts":[{"texttype":"Online","textpurpose":"Special Exhibition","textentryhtml":"<SPAN lang=EN>\r\n<P dir=ltr align=left>These miniature ladders replicate the full-size ladders that had a practical function among the Dogon. The diminutive versions have a spiritual rather than utilitarian purpose. Along with pottery and figurines, they were placed on interior domestic altars where individuals poured sacrificial offerings to facilitate communication with their ancestors. Libations of materials such as animal blood, millet gruel, and minerals from the surrounding landscape coated the surface of the carved wood. The distinct surfaces on these ladders indicate that each has a different sacrificial history. </P></SPAN>","remarks":"Surfaces Seen and Unseen"},{"texttype":"Online","textpurpose":"Provenance","textentryhtml":"John B. Elliott, New York, NY; Princeton University Art Museum, 1998","remarks":null},{"texttype":"Online","textpurpose":"Gallery Label","textentryhtml":"<P>Called miniature ladders, these works replicate the form of the full-size versions, yet their purpose is spiritual rather than utilitarian. Along with pottery and figurines, miniature ladders were placed on interior domestic altars, where Dogon thought to have inherited the souls of specific ancestors would pour sacrificial offerings. The Dogon believe the ladders facilitate a spirit’s ability to reach his ancestor.</P>\r\n<P>In Dogon sacrificial practice, poured libations created a layered patina over the carved wood. The variety of patinas on these ladders, most likely consisting of mixtures of animal blood, minerals from the surrounding landscape, and millet<BR>gruel, indicates that the ladders were originally located on different altars.</P>","remarks":"Fall2012 African Rotation"}],"datebegin":1900,"sortnumber":"1998  579","published_date":"2026-02-11 10:48:50.925137","objectid":36356,"dimensions":"39.3 cm x 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm (15 1/2 x 1 x 1 in.)","on_view":false}