Dogon door lock - Figure - Mali

Simple and traditional Dogon door lock from the Dogon tribe, Mali. It has a metal trim with the locking mechanism still in place; locking pins are also present. Incised markings in a diamond formation cover the entire lock, along with a dark patina. At some point in its life, this lock would have been used either on a house door or, more usually, as a means of keeping a granary closed.

Provenance: From a German collection.