Originally offered at $500...

West Africa, Mali, Bamana/Malinke peoples, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A hand-carved door lock depicting a stylized anthropomorphic figure in the traditional Bamana style. The horizontal slide bar has a rectangular groove along the top as well as incised crosshatch motifs across the front, and the vertical figural body is decorated with linear motifs and impressed circular patterns. The abstract head bears a minimalist countenance of a T-shaped nose and eyebrows and rests atop a stocky neck. The pointed element at the bottom of the body is suggestive of a phallus and indicates this figure's gender as a male. Size: 15.4" W x 15.3" H (39.1 cm x 38.9 cm); 17.75" H (45.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: ex-private Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA collection; ex-private old New England, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s; ex-Dr. Peter Horvath collection, Massachusetts and Florida, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#156728

Nicks and abrasions to lock bar, vertical body and head, peripheries, and verso, with encrustations and fading to pigment, and light softening to some finer details, otherwise intact and very good. Nice remains of pigment throughout.