Dogon carved wood crocodile granary lock.

Mali, first half of 20th century.

On custom blackened steel mount.

The artistic heritage of the Dogon people of Mali is primarily sculptural and anthropomorphic. Most Dogon objects in the western world are sculptures rather than masks, as masks are highly important in Dogon society and are not usually sold to westerners. Even secular items (e.g. granary doors and locks, headrests, house-posts) are endowed with iconographic designs that bestow benedictions upon the user or owner.

The last image is an example of a Dogon carved wood granary door and lock from The Metropolitan Museum c. 16th - 19th century to illustrate how these such locks would have been used. These carved wood doors protected the window-like opening into each family’s grain storage building, usually a high quadrangular granary around which the house was built.

Measurements: 26" height of piece, 27.75" height of piece on stand, 13.5" width of piece, 6.25" width on stand, 3.5" depth of piece, 5" depth of stand.

Provenance:

Pierre Matisse (1900 - 1989)

Pierre-Noël and Jacquelyn Miller Matisse (1940 - 2018)

About Jacquelyn Miller Matisse: Married to Pierre-Noel (Peter) Matisse, the youngest grandson of Henri Matisse, Jacquelyn Miller Matisse (1940-2018) lived a life full of art and culture, travelling around the world as a representative of the Matisse family and participating in many philanthropic activities. Jacquelyn moved to Paris from Chicago in 1966, modeling for Yves Saint Laurent and dancing for Roland Petit at the Casino de Paris. As part of the Matisse, Duchamp and Villon families, Jacquelyn and Peter inherited a large collection of works by Matisse and the Duchamp-Villons, as well as works by artists represented by the Pierre Matisse Gallery.

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