The Dogon are known to create beautifully carved and designed locks which come in all shapes, sizes and forms. These locks would have been mounted to a door used for their homes, granaries and religious dwellings. This particular lock was simply carved with a head protruding from the top and metal eyes. One of the eyes is missing. There is some cracking and general wear and tear – please inspect photos.
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Unique Dogon Door Lock 11.5″ on Base – Mali – African Art
$315.00
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| Type of Object | Lock for granary door |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Mali |
| Ethnicity | Dogon |
| Material | Wood, pigment, metal |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height (Inches) | 9.5" lock | 11.5" including base |
| Width (Inches) | 7.5" |
| Depth (Inches) | 2" lock | 2.75" base |
| Weight (Pounds) | 2 lbs |
| Overall Condition | General wear and tear. |
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Tribe Information
About the Dogon People
The Dogon have become popularized for their ancient tales on human origins and extraterrestrial contact. According to legend, a race of beings called Nommo, came from the star system Sirius, thousands of years ago. The beings are said to have come to Earth and provided humans with knowledge. They gave the Dogon information about their solar system as well as our own. These same creatures also appear in Babylonian and Sumerian myths.
Oddly, the Dogon did have knowledge for centuries that were, until Galileo and his telescope, unknown to the Western world. They identified Jupiter’s moons and Saturn’s rings and knew that the Sun was the center of our solar system. They have stories about the big bang and other astronomical events. They had awareness about an invisible companion star orbiting Sirius that was unidentified until 1970. It baffles scientists to this day that an ancient race had knowledge of solar systems that cannot be seen without the help of high-powered telescopes.
Read more about the Dogon here.
Additional Information
About the Door Lock
In most of Africa, a narrow, four-sided or round structure known as a granary is used to house harvest goods. Covering the windows and doorways to these granary’s, are beautifully carved wooden doors and locks. Doors and locks have been some of the most prized artifacts for art collectors for centuries. The human and animal motifs are meant to create a strong spiritual force to protect the grain inside. Each door tells a story of the people and time it was created
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