Until the mid-twentieth century, the doors of Bambara houses were closed with elaborately carved locks depicting human and animal figures. They consisted of two elements: a vertical casing, which was the prime object of the carver’s focus, and a large crosspiece or bolt that secured the lock. The forms these locks took reflected local religious beliefs and legends, and they were often incised with magical designs that made the dwelling proof against harmful intrusion both physical and spiritual. One of their primary metaphysical functions was the control of Nyale, a divine creative, and generative force that would sow chaos if not properly managed.

This handsome lock shows a zoomorphic form likely representing a reptile such as a turtle or crocodile. It is carved with great clarity of design and displays a lovely balance in both weight and proportion. Its geometric features are poised in robust symmetry, with a sense of rugged physical strength in its angled and folded limbs. Notched incisions around the perimeter of the oversized, diamond-shaped head converge at the spine, lending textural embellishment that emphasizes the natural erosion of the wood.

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