number one: my door knocker
I love objects shaped like animals. I also love door knockers, even though they hardly ever get used these days since most of us also have doorbells, not to mention elaborate smart-home devices.
In any case, seeing this stoic lion gazing from our black front door brings me much joy. It welcomes our guests, it protects our entryway with its noble spirit, it gleams in the afternoon sun.
We bought ours on Wayfair, but there are versions all over the place. And many other interesting shapes and designs…
Door knockers have traditionally included the metal ring, which is a pretty intuitive device, something to make a loud sound on your front entrance to alert you when visitors arrive. Historians say the ring design goes back to the days of Ancient Greece and was used throughout the Roman Empire. (https://www.willowandstone.co.uk/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-the-door-knocker)
It was in the 19th century when door hardware started to advance on a large scale, to more ornate door knockers (like lions’ heads) and instances of the doorbell.
It’s fascinating to notice the small details of a home and think of the centuries of history behind them, the minds that designed them, the hands that made them (or programmed the machines which made them). The houses we have today are an inheritance from countless innovations made throughout thousands of years. And my little door knocker belongs there, in this storied history. I like that.
design + surrender 