Senufo Carved Door

Carved from a single wood block, each register is organised as a radial arrangement of four elongated quadruped forms extending from a central hub, the bodies articulated with reticulated patterning. The uppermost register’s hub is carved as a mask-form head, with narrow vertical eyes and a projecting mouth. The carving is pierced throughout, creating open intervals within the surface field. A female figure is set at the base of the panel, continuous with the same mass, her arms raised to meet the lowest horizontal frame band. The torso is compact, with breasts rendered in low relief and a diamond motif incised at the abdomen. The legs are short, terminating in a base integrated with the panel. Each register is bounded by horizontal bands of repeated triangular geometric relief. The outer frame encloses the composition across the full height.

Surface is compact and stable. Patina is retained across the form, with exposure at projecting elements. Pigment traces are present across the surface, distributed as scattered speckling. Incised and carved details are retained across the surface.

Among the Senufo, doors of this type function as architectural elements associated with granaries and domestic structures.

From the Felice Maffei Collection, acquired in Southern Mali, 1986.

Title

Senufo Carved Door

Culture

Senufo

Origin

Mali

Date

20th century

Dimensions

H 197 cm (77.6 in) · W 74 cm (29.1 in) · D 13 cm (5.1 in)

Medium

Wood

Provenance

From the Felice Maffei Collection, acquired in Southern Mali, 1986.

Condition

Surface stable; pigment traces present; carved and incised details retained.