{"product_id":"ancestral-lizard-guardian-antique-african-door","title":"Ancestral Lizard Guardian Antique African Door","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom the Bandiagara escarpment region of Mali, this two-plank granary or shrine door is carved with stacked bands of chevron and zigzag pattern transitioning into diamond lattice fields lower on the panel. At the center, spanning both joined planks, a diamond frame encloses a stylized lizard or crocodile figure in relief, read within Dogon cosmology as a guardian form protecting granary stores against scarcity and evil spirits, an ancestral water-guardian motif tied to the broader Nommo figure tradition. A full-height crack runs down the central seam, with scattered small surface losses, honest evidence of decades of use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe carved surface remains crisp and legible throughout, with a warm, even patina. This combination of stacked geometric banding and a centered cosmological guardian figure represents genuinely documented iconographic content, distinct from the purely decorative pattern seen on many doors in the collection. Mounted on a custom black stand, the door reads as both protective object and sculpture. Place it where its layered pattern and central guardian figure can be studied up close, a stairwell or entry wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Origin: DE-COR sourced antique; Dogon or Bamana tradition; Mali, West Africa\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Era: Early-20th century \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Material: Hand-carved two-plank hardwood panel, stacked chevron and diamond lattice carving with central relief guardian figure (stylized lizard\/crocodile) spanning both planks\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Finish: Natural aged patina, unpainted\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Size: Door with stand 24\"W x 10\"D x 49\"H\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Color: Warm medium-brown wood tone, even patina\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Condition\/Care: Light-to-moderate antique wear (one full-height crack along the plank seam, minor surface losses, carving crisp throughout). Dust with a soft dry cloth only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Requires White Glove Delivery: Yes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Color variance disclaimer: Antique wood tones and patina vary piece to piece; color may appear slightly different due to monitor settings and natural material variation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis antique Dogon or Bamana two-plank door from Mali features stacked chevron and diamond lattice carving centered on a relief figure of a stylized lizard or crocodile guardian, spanning both planks. Mounted on a custom stand, it shows light-to-moderate antique wear and crisp, legible carving throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: What does a lizard or crocodile guardian figure represent on a Dogon granary door?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e Within Dogon cosmology, reptilian guardian figures like this one are understood as protective presences watching over stored grain, warding off scarcity and evil spirits from the household's food supply. This connects to the broader Nommo ancestral figure tradition documented across Dogon carving, where guardian and ancestor imagery is placed at thresholds and storage points precisely because those are the spaces most in need of spiritual protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(Requires White Glove Delivery)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**Please bear in mind that colors of products shown may vary slightly from their original color due to monitor display settings or photography studio\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DE-COR | Globally Inspired","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50504441954541,"sku":"IMG_6147","price":3845.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0288\/5256\/files\/IMG_6147_6fb6c046-c032-4698-846a-fa3d699b4c43.jpg?v=1787098682","url":"https:\/\/de-cor.com\/products\/ancestral-lizard-guardian-antique-african-door","provider":"DE-COR | Globally Inspired","version":"1.0","type":"link"}