Door with crocodiles and pythons
Massive carved doors were sometimes placed at the main entrance of traditional Bamana or Bozo homes. Housing several generations and branches of a family, such domestic structures were built of sun-dried mud bricks and consist of a series of rooms arranged around one or more courtyards and connected by a surrounding wall. Doors at the main entrance sometimes depict animals that are sought by hunters or that figure in creation myths and migration legends. This door depicts two crocodiles, whose rough scaly hide is represented by a series of raised bumps, and two snakes, whose diamond-patterned skin is indicated by incised lines.
Artwork Details
- Title: Door with crocodiles and pythons
- Artist: Bamana or Bozo blacksmith
- Date: 19th–mid-20th century
- Geography: Mali
- Culture: Bamana or Bozo peoples
- Medium: Wood, metal
- Dimensions: H. 84 × W. 41 × D. 7 3/4 in. (213.4 × 104.1 × 19.7 cm)
- Classification: Wood-Architectural
- Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
- Object Number: 1979.206.155
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.