Dogon Wood Door Lock

A forked wooden key dangles from the bottom, ready to work.

This door lock is Dogon, from Mali or Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved wood. Dogon locks use a sliding bolt held in place by a vertical case, and they were made for granaries and house doors across the region. This example has a broad flat case with a pitted, textured surface and a small square opening near the top. A strip of cloth or hide is knotted around the middle where the bolt passes through. A small Y-shaped peg hangs below. It is 12 inches wide and 10.5 high.

Ready to lock up, and the key is still around.