Abruzzo door knockers
Photo collection of brass door knockers from Teramo, Sulmona and Chieti in Abruzzo and the information they convey.
I’m always dragging a monster camera around, and sometimes I make up primitive photo challenges, trying to catch a specific subject, phenomenon or mood. Door knockers are all time favourites, and this is my collection from the cities of Teramo, Sulmona and Chieti in Abruzzo.
The Abruzzo door knockers are rather unimaginative, but I like the repetition with small variations. And door knockers are fixtures on most town houses in Italy.
The significance of door knockers
The idea of a door knocker dates back to the time before the door bell, and at some point they took on shape and symbolic meaning. There are protective dogs and lions, honorary wreaths, severed hands, scary faces to ward off evil, family monograms, mythological references to Medusa and Cleopetra and elegant or ornate displays of wealth in polished brass.
With a door knocker your house receives a piercing, designed to show who you are and what you stand for.
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he he I like taking photos of door knockers also, Italy is fertile territory for such foibles :) Well done on thinking of something to do with the photos!
I had no idea that door knockers held such meaning, but it does make sense, given that they’re on your front door. Would be interesting to do a psychoanalysis according to people’s door knockers :)
I think focusing on just one item is a great thing t do in photography. What a nice selection of door knockers. I like the one with the lion.
I love door knockers. On the Greek island of Kastellorizo, everyone has a hand on theirs, similar to the one on the bottom right of your photo.
Julia
This is such interesting information on things I saw all over Italy but never gave a second thought. Great idea! I like how it’s tied to an homeowner’s personality. I’ve always found the hand ones cool.
NEAT! I like how you showcased them too.
Interesting piece. Thx. Reminded me of this book “Opening up the world of handles” https://www.ibs.it/code/9788881380305/maffeis-isabella/opening-the-world.html. Full disclosure: I don’t get a credit as the translator, but I was. Don’t know what happened to that subtitle: it was supposed to be “that have spanned” … oops!
I love doors and also door knockers… Nice pictures.. I think I am going back to check out the pictures I have of them.. and yes the repetition is very nice.
Funky idea to focus on something like door knockers as a theme. I’m often taking photos of doors, but door knockers is a great idea too :D
Nice Knockers. (I always wanted to be able to say that harmlessly.) I also see that you’re also into food and cooking photography and blogging! I like the super simple recipe for pasta with dried tomatoes. That’s cool you dry your own tomatoes. I’d love to try that.
Cool idea for a photo essay (but now I can’t get knock, knock jokes out of my mind).
Interesting stuff…I’ve never really given door knockers another look until now…
I like photo collections like this. Unique and interesting.
that must have been a fun scavenger hunt.. going around and finding those door knockers!
Nice door knockers. I found the one’s in Ireland and Belgium really simple and elegant. Wish I had those pictures to share.
I love the idea to take photos of door knockers. My passion is taking photos of sundials. They also offer interesting variations.
So a door knocker on your house is like a tattoo or tribal piercing showing who you are and what you stand for- nice. Now that’s a piercing I can support!
What an exotic way of putting it, but you are right: It is a kind of piercing – like the one they’ve done on a house in Torino (without the knock knock functionallity.)
I love the hand one! So interesting. Much nicer than getting a boring one from Home Depot!
They are rather beautiful and pretty unique.
I am always taking photos of doors (and windows). I love the uniqueness and individuality they represent (similar to signs for various trades). Looking at the hinges can sometimes hint at the construction (how thick/heavy) – more/large hinges = heavy door. Side note – sometimes there is magic behind the door and if it is open take a moment to peek inside.
I collect those too. It’s a great way to boost your observations skills, though I’d never thought of paying attention to the hinges. Thanks for a nice tip:)