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  • Abruzzo door knockers 1

Abruzzo door knockers

Photo collection of brass door knockers from Teramo, Sulmona and Chieti in Abruzzo and the information they convey.



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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.

Abruzzo door knockers 1 Abruzzo door knockers 1 Abruzzo door knockers 1 Abruzzo door knockers 1 Abruzzo door knockers 1 Abruzzo door knockers 1 Abruzzo door knockers Abruzzo door knockers 1 Abruzzo door knockers 1

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.

Other photo collections like these Abruzzo door knockers

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Bolzano and the magic Italian traffic mirrors

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23 replies
  1. Natasha von Geldern
    Natasha von Geldern says:
    July 5, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    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!

    Reply
  2. Laurel
    Laurel says:
    July 5, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    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 :)

    Reply
  3. Leigh
    Leigh says:
    July 5, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    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.

    Reply
  4. Turkey's For Life
    Turkey's For Life says:
    July 5, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    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

    Reply
  5. Mary @ The World Is A Book
    Mary @ The World Is A Book says:
    July 6, 2012 at 6:33 am

    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.

    Reply
  6. Courtney Mroch
    Courtney Mroch says:
    July 6, 2012 at 2:48 pm

    NEAT! I like how you showcased them too.

    Reply
  7. Name
    Name says:
    July 7, 2012 at 2:55 pm

    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!

    Reply
  8. Arianna
    Arianna says:
    July 9, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    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.

    Reply
  9. Laurence
    Laurence says:
    July 12, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    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

    Reply
  10. JPM (Lotus Artichoke)
    JPM (Lotus Artichoke) says:
    July 13, 2012 at 10:20 am

    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.

    Reply
  11. Terry at Overnight New York
    Terry at Overnight New York says:
    July 13, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    Cool idea for a photo essay (but now I can’t get knock, knock jokes out of my mind).

    Reply
  12. D.J. - The World of Deej
    D.J. - The World of Deej says:
    July 15, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    Interesting stuff…I’ve never really given door knockers another look until now…

    Reply
  13. Stephanie - The Travel Chica
    Stephanie - The Travel Chica says:
    July 16, 2012 at 2:47 am

    I like photo collections like this. Unique and interesting.

    Reply
  14. Jade Johnston - OurOyster.com
    Jade Johnston - OurOyster.com says:
    July 24, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    that must have been a fun scavenger hunt.. going around and finding those door knockers!

    Reply
  15. Kurt
    Kurt says:
    August 14, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Nice door knockers. I found the one’s in Ireland and Belgium really simple and elegant. Wish I had those pictures to share.

    Reply
  16. Travelwriticus
    Travelwriticus says:
    August 21, 2012 at 11:46 am

    I love the idea to take photos of door knockers. My passion is taking photos of sundials. They also offer interesting variations.

    Reply
  17. Mary @ Green Global Travel
    Mary @ Green Global Travel says:
    August 31, 2012 at 6:54 pm

    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!

    Reply
  18. admin
    admin says:
    September 1, 2012 at 9:02 am

    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.)

    Reply
  19. Dina
    Dina says:
    November 12, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    I love the hand one! So interesting. Much nicer than getting a boring one from Home Depot!

    Reply
    • Mette Vaabengaard
      Mette Vaabengaard says:
      November 15, 2015 at 11:11 am

      They are rather beautiful and pretty unique.

      Reply
  20. LivedinItaly
    LivedinItaly says:
    February 14, 2016 at 3:38 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Mette Vaabengaard
      Mette Vaabengaard says:
      February 14, 2016 at 5:04 pm

      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:)

      Reply

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