What's That Knocking at My Door? The History of Door Knockers

On a trip to Italy a year before the pandemic, I learned about door knockers. To be more precise, I learned about my friend’s passion for taking photos of door knockers. I had paid little to no attention to these strange, and sometimes frightening, door accessories as I stood tapping my toe while she got “one more” shot. Luckily, despite my attitude, she graciously provided the photos taken during our trip for use on my Home page. It was not until I saw the photos lined up together that I realized door knockers are actually quite beautiful, and I wondered about the story behind them. Considering their ubiquity in many parts of the world, I found very little in the way of information. Here is some of what I was able to find.

An Unsavory Beginning

In Ancient Greece, it was unacceptable to enter a home without warning. Doors had replaced hangings and “sophisticated Athenians preferred to use a door knocker.” Upper class Greeks had slaves whom they chained to the door to prevent them from running away. Visitors would rap on the door with a short bar attached to the chain to wake a slave who might have fallen asleep. The bar was replaced by a ring and the use of door knockers spread to Rome and beyond. The Renaissance brought embellishments and artistic possibilities. Some of the most elaborate door knockers can be found in Italy.

The Beauty of Variety

As you can see from the photos, door knockers run the gamut—silly, scary, or simply efficient. From straightforward bars or rings with which one can rap directly on the door to elaborate figures and coordinated base plates. Originally made from iron, brass and bronze came into fashion in the 1800s. The variety is endless, but there are a few common and recognizable styles.

The Lion’s Head Door Knocker

Door knockers in the shape of lions holding rings in their teeth affixed to church doors such as those of Freckenhorst Church in Germany have been interpreted to symbolize Christ and deliverance from sin. Lions have long represented strength and symbolized the sun, which is why their manes are so often designed to appear as flames.

Lions have long represented Great Britain; thus, the brass lion head with a large brass ring is the “quintessential door knocker in Georgian architecture” and many homes retain this “original door furniture.” (This does not mean there is a dearth of lion’s head door knockers in Italy because “we” photographed many of them.) A well-known example of this style is the lion’s head affixed to the black door at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The lion’s head door knocker was added in the 1770s. In a blog for Jane Austen’s World, Tony Grant notes the connection door knockers provide between the past and the present, particularly with respect to the traditional skills of mold making and metal work utilized by the artisans who create them.

Sanctuary Knockers Provided Safe Haven

A Sanctuary Knocker or Sanctuary Ring is located on the door to a Christian church. In the Middle Ages, “a fugitive had only to touch the sanctuary knocker in order to be immune from arrest.” The Durham World Heritage Site details the role of the Sanctuary Knocker in the Durham Cathedral’s history. If one had committed a crime, they could obtain 37 days of sanctuary to make their plans by using the knocker. Monks sat in a position that allowed them to watch for sanctuary seekers day and night and a bell would be rung to announce someone had sought sanctuary. Seekers were given black robes adorned with St. Cuthbert’s Cross on the left shoulder to wear during their stays. They were provided with food, drink, and bedding, but remained in an area separated from the rest of the church until their safe departure could be arranged. The right to sanctuary was abolished around 1623.

The Hand of Fatima

These hand-shaped door knockers are common in countries bordering the Mediterranean. The hand is often adorned with a lacey cuff and rings on the fingers and appears to be holding a ball. It is suggested this door knocker signaled a home of Muslim faith and the hand was a talisman against evil.

Are Door Knockers Remnants of the Past?

Judging by the plethora of sites selling door knockers, in spite of the modern conveniences of doorbells and video cameras, door knockers as home decoration are here to stay. No longer confined to bronze or brass, they come in a variety of materials and novelty shapes from palm trees to pineapples. Pick the door knocker for your home that reflects you, but enjoy the photos of those that reflect people of centuries passed.