Dogon Door Lock

****5/1/12: This item will be on display at:

"Indigenous Peoples and Food Sovereignty"

An exhibition in recognition of Indigenous Peoples on the occasion of the Eleventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Visitor's Lobby, General Assembly Building, UN Headquarters, NYC

May 8 - June 29, 2012 ****

Less than two hundred miles from Timbuktu, one enters the land, cliffs and life of the Dogon people. Built within and around the Bandiagara cliffs a multitude of dwellings are found. The Dogon realize that they are not the first inhabitants of the land that they now occupy. Their myths, legends, traditions and art retain the memories of their predecessors and supernatural ancestors.

Door locks are exceedingly creative endeavors oft time richly decorated with symbolic motifs that are directly related to tribal ancestors and historical lore. The most coveted locks will display a theme that is important to the people of the specific tribe. Gravity-fed metal pins drop into holes in the sliding bolt, some of which also have a metal cover for additional strength and resistance to wear. Locks such as these were fixed onto house doors, which were usually plainer than the famous carved Dogon granary doors. Placing an image of an ancestor on the door lock offered additional protection.

This is a beautiful older selection with obvious usage wear and a nice dirty patina making for and eye catching, classic object when postioned on the included polished brown 2 inch thick wood base!

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Dimensions: 23 inches tall when placed on the stand x 17 inches tall.

Wt: 15 lbs. shipping

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