Malian Dogon Ladder

The Dogon people of Mali lived a vertical life. With homes set into cliff faces and orchards to harvest, tree ladders were integral tools of daily life. A pattern of well-worn steps darkens the wood, adding depth and texture, balanced by the asymmetry of the ladder's forked top. Hand-carved from single tree trunks, the practical design of this ladder lives on as a spirited, sculptural object.