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The locks below have been sold. They are left here for educational and reference
purposes.
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Photographs © Tim Hamill
DOGON DOORLOCKS, Mali
Used to protect houses and granaries, Dogon doorlocks range from the abstract and symbolic to representations of ancestors. Gravity-fed metal pins drop into holes in the sliding bolt, some of which also have a metal cover for additional strength and resistence to wear. Locks such as these were afixed with large iron staples through holes to house doors, which were usually plainer than the famous carved granary doors. Placing an image of an ancestor on the doorlock offered additional protection by making the door sacrosanct.
All of these doorlocks have been mounted on metal bases which are included in the price. Every doorlock on this page has its original crossbolt and is operational. We have stated on each locks page how many pins survive, if it has metal on the crossbolt (2-5, 14, 18-19) and the height and width of the lock. The crossbolts are lightly wedged in place, but can be slid to the left and locked. Only 4 and 20 have keys, the others must be turned upside down to drop the pins back and unlock them.
On Dogon Doorlocks 2, we have more locks, which have lost their original crossbolt, which means that although they may appear matched, the locks are not operational.
GO TO DOGON GRANARY DOORS PAGE
GO TO DOGON GRANARY DOORS PAGE
RETURN TO ART OF DOGON EXHIBITION PAGE
RETURN TO AFRICAN DOOR EXHIBITION PAGE
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