Door Knockers Are Always In Vogue

While door knockers may have gone out of style from time to time during different ages and even be considered old-fashioned in some respect they are still commonly used to add decorative touch to a front door. Of course originally the door knocker was use to notify people living inside a home that someone was at their door. These days, the common doorbell has taken over that task, yet you will still find many homes with door knockers proudly displayed on their front door.

While door knockers may have gone out of style from time to time during different ages and even be considered old-fashioned in some respect they are still commonly used to add decorative touch to a front door. Of course originally the door knocker was use to notify people living inside a home that someone was at their door. These days, the common doorbell has taken over that task, yet you will still find many homes with door knockers proudly displayed on their front door.
Some of the earliest door knockers found dated back to the Macedonian times. During these earlier times door knockers were mainly found on the houses of the rich and influential. They were also very commonly used during the Roman Empire and in fact they use continued right on through the Gothic and medieval periods. There was one period of time during the mid-19th century when they were no longer considered chic or in vogue. This was because of the advancement of modernism during those days which was reflected even in the style of housing and décor. All the heavy wooden doors were taken down and replaced by much thinner and more streamlined doors. It seems that the heavier door knockers of those days looked somewhat out of place on this style of door. However interest was once again piqued during the early 1900s and door knockers re-appeared on the scene.

The medieval door knocker was usually very well-crafted however it is the doorknobs of the Renaissance that really stand out as works of art. There was amazingly intricately designed door knockers found on the doors of many of the wealthy and noble of those days. Frequently, the door knocker was drawn up by an artist with the pattern then given to a metal smith who actually crafted the door knocker from the design he was given. Most of these earlier types of knockers were made either from iron or brass.

In spite of it being a rather humble object, the door knocker has a rich history and has also frequently been highlighted in literature passages. You must surely remember the door knocker on Scrooge's house in a Christmas Carol. It is also said that a person could find sanctuary at the church providing he arrived at the church and grabbed hold of the door knocker before his pursuers caught up to him.

While door knockers have changed quite a bit in some respects, especially in their purpose, you will find many today that very closely resemble those made during medieval times or during the Renaissance. They are still often made from cast iron, brass, or stainless steel. Of course you can also find some made from wood and others made from pewter. These rather outstanding door knockers are usually used for decorative purposes. They provide a singular focal point on a door that adds to the overall appearance of the door. Because they are still in common use you will find that many of these door knockers are very intricately designed, closely resembling those from centuries past. In fact, many are exact replicas of old style door knockers even down to the metal that they are made from.

Of course there are many different types of door knockers, they come in all shapes and sizes and designs. Throughout history, the lion's head door knocker has been very popular and used on many doors. This is still a very popular design today along with door knockers that feature animal heads such as the horse head, a deer head, or even adult head. These types of door knockers are very popular in country areas on country homes. The ring knocker is also a very popular design.

There are many different things that can be done with door knockers. Some home owners like to engrave a special message on the door knocker, and you can find some door knockers that have a built in peep-hole so you can easily see who is knocking at your door. There is also a lot of variety when it comes to what is actually used as the knocker part of the piece. In some cases it will be a ring, in other cases it may be an animal body part such as a lion's tongue.

It is usually fairly easy to find a door knocker for sale. They are sold at most home improvement and hardware stores, and you are also easily able to find them on line. There is no end of different styles available to buy. Some are a much more modern in their design, while others are more replicas of antique door knockers. They range in price greatly. A simple door knocker can be bought online for as little as $12 while a brass door knocker may cost you anywhere from $40-$100. It all depends on the craftsmanship, what the door knocker is made from and even things such as how big it is and if it has any additional features such as a peep hole etc. When determining how much to pay for a door knocker, especially if you are buying one online, you will need to remember to factor in the shipping costs. Also, try not to buy a door knocker that will look too large when installed on your door.

When it comes to installation, usually it is a very simple procedure to place a door knocker on a door. In most cases they merely need to be screwed into place. You will want to make some measurements on your door to ensure that the door knocker is centered and it is level. You may not want to install one if you are living in a rented house unless you are prepared to either leave it behind when you go or to patch up the door after you have taken it off.

If you are wondering what type of wedding gift to give to someone, you may want to consider buying a more expensive door knocker. They also make a great gift to give to someone at a housewarming party providing of course that they do not already have one.

While the purpose of the door knocker has changed over the years, they are certainly not out of style. In fact they are very useful for livening up your front door and adding a little class to it.