Dogon Door Lock Ta Koguru

Origin: Mali
Approx Age: 1920’s
Materials: Wood, iron
Dimensions cm: 27 tall x 30 wide
Ref. Number: 0842
A wonderful and simplistic Dogon door lock Ta Koguru from the ex private collection of African art of Emile Robyn (Brussels, Belgium). It was Emile’s grandfather, Abel Robyn, who started the African art collection in 1850. This collection has been transmitted over three generations. When Abel died in 1895, his son, Jérôme Robyn, inherited the collection, which he continued to increase until his death in 1968. Emile Robyn inherited from his father and continued to extend this magnificent collection as his purchases were made only by renowned galleries, auctioneers or collectors. Many of the pieces in this collection were presented at events such as “Parcours des Mondes” in Paris.
This lovely and delicately carved item was collected by Jérôme Robyn in the early 1940’s and was made approximately 20 years previous to collecting in situ in Bamako, Mali.
History
The Dogon peoples used wooden bolt locks (ta
Each lock is given a name in accordance with its message, person, myth, or any anecdote referred to. Door locks were a prized gift for young
References:
The Arts of Africa at the Dallas Museum of
Imperato, Pascal James. “Dogon Door Locks.” African Arts
Griaule, Marcel. Conversations with Ogotemmeli. London: Oxford University Press.
Calame-Griaule, in Bilot, Alain, Michel Bohbot, Geneviéve Calame-Griaule, and Francine NDiaye, eds. Serrures du pays Dogon. Paris: Adam Biro, 2003.

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