Granary shutter, Dogon; Mali
Wood, iron; H. 25 1/4"
Among the Dogon, wooden shutters or
doors cover the openings to narrow, four-sided structures
with domed and thatch-covered roofs that serve as
granaries for millet, sorghum, rice, corn, fonio,
beans, and other staples. Secured by a wooden lock
or sealed with mud, granary shutters are often carved
in relief with rows of human figures, birds, animals,
or geometric motifs. Figures on such doors have
been interpreted as male and female mythical beings
that originated the various Dogon lineages. The
multitude of figures depicted on this shutter would
have appeared in stark contrast to the simple and
unpainted façade, drawing attention to the
protective power of the ancestors.
