Barn door belonging to the Dogon people. It is made of solid wood, probably from a local tree such as baobab or shea tree, hand-carved with traditional tools. The door is decorated with reliefs that include anthropomorphic figures, animals (such as crocodiles, which symbolize fertility and protection), and geometric patterns (squares, rhombuses, and intersecting lines). On the left side, there is a carved locking mechanism in the shape of a spear or beak, which fits into a groove. On the right side, the "side spikes" at the corners serve to fit the door to the barn frame or adobe walls. These doors are used to close the granaries (called ginnas), which store crops such as millet, sorghum, or corn.
Beyond their practical function, these doors are ritual objects. The carvings represent cosmogonic myths, ancestors, and protective spirits believed to safeguard the harvest and the family's prosperity. They also serve as a marker of social status within the Dogon community.
The Dogon doors and windows contain such a variety of figures and different treatments that they perfectly show the artistic and creative spirit of this people.
This barn door contains the essential features of Dogon cosmogony:
At the top are two stylized human figures representing ancestors or guardian spirits, a common element in Dogon art. Among these, there are four structures that allude to the mythical Komondo bird, through the Kanaga cross, a structure similar to the Cross of Lorraine, which refers to the creation myth; the upper cross symbolizes the world of the supernatural, and the lower cross symbolizes the earthly world. The rest of the decoration is occupied by crocodiles which, according to Dogon mythology, was the animal that carried the first people across the Niger River in search of a new location.
State of preservation: The wood is in very good condition. It has a vertical crack; however, the structure remains firm thanks to a metal piece and the two horizontal crossbars that reinforce the entire door.
The crack was caused by the movements of contraction and expansion, as this is a piece that has been exposed to the elements for decades.
Small areas of natural wear and tear, produced by everyday use.
Very good patina.
"Carved with precision in wood, it embodies the artisanal excellence of this town."
Museums with similar pieces:
Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac Museum (Paris, France): This museum has an extensive collection of African art, including Dogon doors with similar carvings.
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA): The Met houses several Dogon pieces, including barn doors dating from the 19th and 20th centuries, with comparable motifs.
National Museum of Mali (Bamako, Mali): This museum has a collection of Dogon art that includes barn doors, some of which are still used in local ceremonies.
British Museum (London, United Kingdom): It also possesses Dogon doors with carvings that reflect the cosmology and spiritual beliefs of this people.
BARN DOOR
Mali, 20th century
