{"product_id":"antique-finely-carved-braided-african-door","title":"Rare Double Sided Carved Cosmic African Door","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a genuine rarity,  a Dogon door from Mali carved in identical deep relief on both faces,  rather than the single decorated face typical of most antique African doors. Each face is composed in three stacked registers, every register holding a mirrored pair of elongated figures with pointed ears and a long snout, a form consistent with Yurugu, the Pale Fox, a central figure in Dogon cosmology associated with disorder, divination, and cosmic imbalance. The registers are divided by a carved basket-weave band, and the original wood hinge post remains fixed to the left edge, evidence this was a genuinely functioning door rather than a decorative panel. \u003cbr\u003eAt 5 inches thick, the carved door is notably substantial, part of what made carving both faces possible. Condition is strong throughout, with only a few small old mounting holes that don't touch the carved field. Given the carving on both sides, this piece is suited to freestanding display, a room divider position or a stand set away from the wall, so the reverse face and its matching Yurugu figures aren't left hidden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Origin: Dogon tradition, Mali, West Africa\u003cbr\u003e*Era: Early 20th century (estimated from patina and wear)\u003cbr\u003e*Material: Hand-carved hardwood, wood hinge post\u003cbr\u003e*Finish: Natural aged patina, identical deep relief carving on both faces\u003cbr\u003e*Dimensions: 26\"W x 5\"D x 70\"H (67.5\"H without hinge post)\u003cbr\u003e*Condition: Light-to-moderate antique wear, a few small old mounting holes not affecting the carved field; structurally stable, deep relief crisp on both sides\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rare double-sided Dogon door from Mali, carved identically in deep relief on both faces with three registers of figures consistent with Yurugu, the Pale Fox, divided by woven basket-weave bands, retaining its original wood hinge post.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAngle: Cultural\/historical context (switching from the planned Styling\/placement angle, since the Yurugu identification is too specific and relevant not to lead with)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Who is Yurugu in Dogon cosmology, and why would the figure appear on a door?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yurugu, often called the Pale Fox, is a significant figure in Dogon cosmology, generally understood as an agent of disorder and rebellion against the primordial order established by the ancestral Nommo spirits. Despite that disruptive role, Yurugu is also closely tied to divination practice among Dogon communities, where fox tracks left in sand are read as a form of oracle. A figure this central to Dogon cosmological narrative appearing on a carved door isn't unusual, doors and architectural elements were common surfaces for cosmological and ancestral imagery in Dogon material culture, though without direct provenance for this specific piece, it's honest to describe the iconography as consistent with Yurugu rather than definitively documented for this door.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e(Requires White Glove Delivery)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\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.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"DE-COR | Globally Inspired","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50513077010669,"sku":"IMG_6242","price":6295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0288\/5256\/files\/6242.jpg?v=1787257967","url":"https:\/\/de-cor.com\/products\/antique-finely-carved-braided-african-door","provider":"DE-COR | Globally Inspired","version":"1.0","type":"link"}