Berber Palm Wood Door

The slender Berber Palm Wood portal constructed using three simple panels of palm wood, one incorporating the wooden post hinge. Each panel fixed by hand wrought iron nails of a rustic manufacture. Also with a wooden lock with a primative locking system attached.

These doors are an integral part of the culture and history of the Berber peoples of Saharan North Africa. The door the main portal to the home, protecting from the harsh elements of the region. Decorations, symbols passed down over generations are incised into these doors, some meanings have been lost to time, others of a more modern nature have been over carved, these over carvings offer a cultural link and display a naivety of craftsmanship which is very appealing. The erosive climate of the desert creates over time a unique and wonderful sun-bleached surface to the wood panels. This reinforcing the hardship of the traditional Berber and Tuareg life style of yesteryear and of more modern times still. The doors often found with inscriptions, geometric images, objects and stylistic motifs of nomadic importance. Some of the designs are so intricate they support the original owners past status or wealth in the local community.