Hairpin c. 20th century

This is a pair of Dogon hairpins, crafted from metal, their exact date of creation is unknown. It's interesting to think about how even everyday objects can be elevated to art. These hairpins, with their gleaming surfaces and intricate designs, seem to embody a real sense of process. You can almost feel the hand of the artist shaping the metal, coaxing it into these elegant forms. Look closely and you'll see the careful tooling, the way the metal is worked to create texture and depth. The tops of the pins are really something, aren't they? The level of detail is stunning. There's a fluidity to these hairpins, they almost seem to dance, bending and flowing in a way that captures the essence of form and function. For me, they bring to mind the work of Alexander Calder, who similarly transformed utilitarian objects into whimsical works of art. Like Calder's sculptures, these hairpins celebrate the beauty of simplicity and the power of imagination.