ALL DIFFERENT, ALL KNOCKERS
I have always been interested in door knockers. Don't you think they are something like the language of a door? Their shape, their size, their sound, well, they are like words that convey a meaning to both passers-by, whoever uses them, whoever hears their sound....
Although hand door knockers are said to have been originated from the Hand of Fatima—a palm-shaped amulet used to protect against evil—hand-shaped knockers are common in countries bordering the Mediterranean whence they spread to neighbouring countries. This explains why in Portugal we find many doors, particularly not modern, whose knockers are hand-shaped.
At a first sight they look all alike but as we pay a careful attention at them we notice that even a minor detail makes one different from the other: fat hand or not so, cuffs that are more or less adorned, different finger for the ring, even the finishing of the raw-material can exhibit a particularity, brass, forged or not, copper, iron, etc.
The collage shows some of the hands which I saw in Oporto.
At a first sight they look all alike but as we pay a careful attention at them we notice that even a minor detail makes one different from the other: fat hand or not so, cuffs that are more or less adorned, different finger for the ring, even the finishing of the raw-material can exhibit a particularity, brass, forged or not, copper, iron, etc.
The collage shows some of the hands which I saw in Oporto.
But not all door knockers are hand-shaped. This second collage pictures some others, most of which are different from hand ones, and for this reason made me take a photo of them.
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Fascinating. I had so much fun picking out a favorite. Which do I like the best? It changes every time I look at them. But maybe the first set, middle row, second from right.
ReplyDeleteHi Benni! It's always rewarding to know that someone like you has liked a post. I can understand why your favourite knocker is that one. A refined lady would have chosen it...
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