Elaborate Door Embellishments
A post on Dark Roasted Blend inspired me to go down a mad rabbit hole of door embellishments (I know…around the Internet I can’t be trusted not to research some of the most useless but fascinating collections on earth).
These images are from the source post, because they did the beautifully convenient job of combining more than one per image, but a vast wonderland of heavy, metal sonorous sculptures awaits if you poke around online.
This woman hanging on as her body gets blown away, washed away or otherwise horizontally whooshed is one of my favorites.
Check out that one on the left! Undoubtedly it is one of the most complexly designed mechanisms for the simple purpose of knocking on a door.
Because the Internet has thought of everything (and thought of everything a lot), a quick search on Pinterest reveals hundreds of boards dedicated to door adornments. I had to yank myself away from the screen to stop looking! And while I never thought I’d ask anyone “Sooooo, what’s your favorite door knocker?” please feel free to share if you do have a preference in this arbitrary category.
SheWalksSoftly 
November 4, 2014 at 11:29 pm
These are great, I never even thought of ridiculously ornate door knockers, which is weird because I’ve seen quite a few of the olden day ones.
I like the simplicity of the octopus one and the stupendous mechanicalness of the peacock one!
November 5, 2014 at 12:40 am
Love them all actually, thanks for this. Nothing is arbitrary if it’s important to somebody. (Ahem) One can say I’ve got a healthy fetish for door knockers and keep a keen eye out for them at flea markets, yard sales, and antique shops. I love in particular the artistic works tarnished by time’s passing touch of verdigris, rust, and golden bronze gleam. Although the pristine nickel silver (?) peacock knocker is stupendous. I don’t think the bell can constitute as a door knocker though. Maybe I’m wrong? I had bought years ago a spanking new doorknocker of a wizardry-looking Green Man that just spoke to me (I wish it literally did) and that weekend with vinegar, peroxide, salt and fire antiquated it a hundred years at least. Looks perfectly imperfect now and worth a lot more than $50.
November 5, 2014 at 6:51 am
I think you’ve seen the 1880’s Bat letter slot & Door Knocker by Kenrick & Sons that I have. I also unearthed a 140 year old gargoyle knocker I think you will really dig as well. Can’t wait to show you.
November 5, 2014 at 3:24 pm
Oh dear [**hangs head in shame**] I don’t even have a door knocker, just a chime thingie that goes ‘Bing-bong’ (or sometimes only ‘Bing’ if it’s feeling particularly inhospitable). If I could choose one of these beauties – and it would be a tough choice – I think it’d have to be the large, jolly-looking snail, to make up for my chime’s antisocial tendencies! -Nx
November 5, 2014 at 8:14 pm
Thanks for the comments, guys! I love that people actually have things to say about this topic.
November 6, 2014 at 7:07 am
Amazing! They are the sort of thing you don’t realise is so amazing like it does until you see one, and then you just gotta do something about it. As long as you have a good door for one, or it’s no good. I have given a couple as gifts in the past, and they always make a hit. Maybe I can find one that screams “Dana.”
Thanks for sharing–and again for curating all this neat stuff. I really appreciate seeing so much of what I can’t seek out myself, or what I can’t accumulate other than to look here and drool. xoxox
November 8, 2014 at 1:40 am
Awww…you’re very welcome! ❤
November 21, 2014 at 9:55 pm
knocker.png
just one that I thought you may find amusing, sorry if not