Original Antique Black Cast Iron Women’s Hand Door Knockers — Pair of Two For Sale

Original Antique Black Cast Iron Women’s Hand Door Knockers — Pair of Two
Intro/Background:
After acquiring these stunning examples of Victorian Era door knockers, I looked into the history of door knockers themselves. Apparently there is a bit of a dark past behind them. It is believed that door knockers originated in ancient Greece, where slaves were chained to a ring on the front door for the purpose of greeting guests. If the guests arrived to discover the slave was asleep, a knocker was installed to awaken the homeowners. The Romans continued this practice until around the mid 15th century.
At that time, two door knockers existed, one male and one female. The guests would use the knocker of their designated gender. Each made distinct sounds, so homeowner would immediately know the gender of the guest. If it were a male knocking and the woman of the house was home alone, she could choose not to answer the door.
These door knockers are black cast iron, which was the original material chosen for the construction. According to a history of door knockers published in 1917, “The material first employed in their construction was iron, later bronze, and lastly brass, which has retained preference since it first came into use.”
Door knockers have appeared throughout the centuries in literature. They have come to symbolize hospitality and good fortune and often were used to ward off evil spirits.Charles Dickens was a door knocker enthusiast, and used the objects repeatedly in his work. In the opening lines of his historic and beloved “Christmas Carol”, Dickens intricately describes Scrooge imagining he sees his dead partner Marley’s face on the door knocker of his home. Shakespeare, too, referenced door knockers many times in his vast catalog.
Suffice it to say that door knockers harken back to ancient times, and remain a curious and beautiful relic of the past.
The Piece Itself:
This four-piece set includes two women’s hand door knockers attached to hinged brackets and two lower “plates” on which the knocker is sounded.
I have researched these knockers online, and I can attest that often the only remnant is the hand itself, its once- hinged fastener lost to the many years of time. However, these pieces have remained in remarkable condition and include not only the hands and the hinges but also the lower plates and four original heavy screws. They are completely functional. Although they bear the signs of use (the black surface chipped from the many guests who have come to call), they are solid, indestructible and beautiful specimens. I suspect they date to the early 19th century based on the few similar cast iron examples I was able to locate online. Most of them are broken or have missing pieces, but all are described as “heavy cast iron Victorian era door knockers.”
These knockers have an absolutely beautiful patina, the existing nicks of paint only further demonstrating they are NOT reproductions, but originals. They have the original ornate “cuff and bow” wrist design and a ring on the middle finger, with the hand gripping what many believe to be an apple. They are smooth to the touch and have a serious and substantial weight — weighing a hefty 3 and one half pounds EACH!
Often described as a “classic French design”, the women hand knockers have long been thought to have originated in Muslim countries, where they symbolize the “Hand of Fatima.” These hands were considered a sign of protections of those in the dwelling.
These knockers were once attached to the front doors of my previous home, (which accompanied the Brass Tibetan Fertility Horse Door Handle and Heavy Highly-Detailed Bronze Tibetan Fertility Door Handle also listed on this site). The coupling of these door knockers and the handles made for an extraordinary entrance, and the conversation about these items inevitably started even before a guest entered our home. (I once chatted with a FedEx driver for nearly half an hour about the history of my front door hardware!)
Sadly, when we moved more than 20 years ago, the knockers did not fit the style of our new home. So they have remained bagged and stored these many years. It’s time for them to be seen and appreciated as the beautiful and historic objects they are.
The Hardware:
As I mentioned, no piece of this extraordinary set is missing, broken or damaged. It contains the four original screws, both hand knockers with hinged plate door attachments and both “knocking plates” below. They appear as though they have just been removed from a Victorian home.
Dimensions/Weight/Size:Hand and Hinge Weight: 3.6 pounds EACHLower Plate Weight: 10 ouncesHand Screws: 1 5/8 inchesLower Plate Screws: 1 1/2 inchesLength (Fingertips to Wrist as knocker hangs): 6 inchesLength (Fingertips to Plate attached to door): 6.5 inchesAll Four Plate Measurements: 2.75 inches x 2.25 inches