Door Knocker
Unknown Artist
15th–16th century
Medium
Iron
Dimensions
Overall: 3 1/8 x 16 in. (7.9 x 40.6 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Iron
Culture
European
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cloisters Collection, 1955
Accession Number
55.61.28
Tags
Art Historical Context
This sturdy iron door knocker, by an unknown European artisan in the 15th or 16th century, invites us into the practical artistry of the late medieval and early Renaissance periods. Measuring just 3 1/8 x 16 inches (7.9 x 40.6 cm), its compact form belies the blacksmith's skill in forging durable metal for everyday use. Housed in The Cloisters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the 1955 Cloisters Collection it exemplifies the fusion of function and subtle decoration in European metalwork. Door knockers like this one were essential fixtures on grand homes and public buildings, announ...