267 - Door or barn lock. Africa, probably Dogon (Mali), 20th century.

Door or barn lock. Africa, probably Dogon (Mali), 20th century. Carved wood. It has a patina consistent with its use and age. Measurements: 30 × 21 × 5.5 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. The combination of architectural function and ornamental carving is one of the distinctive features of traditional Dogon locks. The piece consists of a carved vertical body and a thick, movable transverse bolt, which together form a simple yet effective locking mechanism. The front features geometric decoration carved in incised lines and relief, arranged in registers, while the surface retains a pronounced patina resulting from use. In Dogon architecture in Mali, this type of lock was used primarily on doors and shutters of granaries—buildings intended both for storing grain and for safeguarding personal belongings. Their production was traditionally the work of blacksmiths, who were also responsible for carving various architectural elements. The decoration of doors and locks could incorporate human, animal, or abstract motifs related to ideas of protection, fertility, and the continuity of the community.