Vintage African Dogon People Carved Granary Door, 1970s

This finely-carved shutter or door once adorned a Dogon granary, serving both to protect and sanctify the life-giving stores of food contained inside.

Dogon doors are intricately carved masterpieces from one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world: the Dogon people of central Mali. Traditionally used as granary closures, Dogon Doors feature glyphs that tell many stories, from spiritual appeals to the good life, depictions of the original human tribe and tokens of prosperity.
The carvings represent 7 mythological ancestors, 2 Kanaga masks and two breasts.
The ancestors represent the origins of the Dogon families, the Kanaga masks are the symbols of harmony and balance between heaven and earth, and the breasts represent fertility. All these symbols on the door were intended to protect the granaries and ensure good harvests and harvests while respecting the universal order.
Therefore, the barn door is a very representative element of Dogon culture, mostly based on millet agriculture, and is an equally important part of African culture