This is a picture of a door knocker in Beaune, which is just outside of Dijon, France (of mustard fame). I thought it was clever; a hand using a hand to knock.
I like taking pictures of door knockers because they are the first thing you see when you approach a door. They say something about the house and the people who live, or have lived, in it.
Where I live, door knockers aren’t common. They’ve been replaced by door bells, which are easier to hear, but don’t have the same look or history about them…at least not to me.
So, I thoroughly enjoyed myself while traveling in Switzerland and other countries in Europe because door knockers are very common there. They tend to come in all shapes and sizes and can be very old and unusual.
In my travels, I found door knockers that were friendly and inviting, funny or daring and some that were scary and intimidating. Each one, however, made me wonder about the people who lived in that house.
Who’s Behind this Door?
This is your challenge. In the comment box, tell who you would see if you lifted this door knocker and asked for entry. It can be an imaginary person, a person from history, or someone from your own life story.
Okay, here you go….
Step up to the door.
Lift the door knocker.
Hear the sound echoing into the house.
Listen for the footsteps approaching on the other side.
Now who opens the door?
Enjoy this challenge!
An Exceptional 10...
Colleen
Davina
desk49
Hilary
JC
Lynn
Talon
{ 1 trackback }
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
…a butler! An older, but friendly looking gentleman, with soft white hair and a very warm smile.
I think that whatever family would be so creative and unique might also have a butler too, especially I am imagining a nice estate somewhere in Europe that this door belongs to.
Evitas last blog post..Significance
Sara,
Wanted you to know I was here and read it all, but I have to go and teach a class – I will try to come back.. very interesting photo and sharing. Thank you
Patricias last blog post..What Good are Fathers For?
I see a smiling, older woman who loves to dress stylishly. Her hospitality is well known, as are her special sandwiches she serves guests in the afternoon.
Lori Hoecks last blog post..Think Like a Black Belt – the self defense E-Book
A brass walking statue opens the door, grabs the hand and reattaches it to its wrist, and says in a gravelly voice “the master shall see you now.”
It would be my dad’s mom who died when I was 6. She’d say “Come in, Jannie. We’re going to bake some cookies! And fry up some donuts. And then take the train into town and buy you some new shiny black shoes.”
Jannie Funsters last blog post..10 Great Mysteries of the Universe
Hi Sara. I’m laughing right now at Chris’s comment. Great imagination Chris! Thanks for sharing it.
This is a very unique door knocker. I knocked and listened to the approaching footsteps Sara.
The person who opened the door was a very handsome and stately, dark-haired, middle-aged orchestra conductor. Reserved mannerism, but with a powerfully striking presence. His name is Colin. He opens the door holding a single red rose. He is single and is awaiting my arrival for a special romantic rendezvous
Davinas last blog post..365 Days & Still Blogging
Hi Sara. I agree with you-I think dook knockers are charming and they can say a lot about the house owner. My first job in high school was working for this store called “Knobs and Knockers” Really electic.
In Savannah we saw a similar store and there was a bunch of knockers-one I liked was the crane knocker, my husbands favorite. But alas, we have a doorbell!
I’d say a little girl opens the door and takes your hand and says”You’re late. It’s way past tea time!”
Cynthia Christiansons last blog post..Money Is My Heart
What a great exercise, Sara,
And you go Davina. …a romantic rendezvous
I’ll go with my first impression. It would be an elderly woman, who lives all alone in the gigantic home, and is so happy to hear someone knocking on the door, she opens it, smiles, and say, “How can I help you, my dear?’….
She invites me in for a cup of tea and fresh baked scones. Yum!
Then we become great friends and I visit her often so I can listen to all of her stories from days gone by.
P.S. She has a bit of an accent, but I haven’t put my finger on it’s origin.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..It Started With A Tweet
@ Evita — As I always associate butlers with Britain, I flashed on a British house and family. I like that the butler has a very warm smile:~)
@ Patricia — Hope the class goes well and I know you’ll be back…as I will be to your site! Thanks about the photo:~)
@ Lori — Great image! Interesting that both you and Evita saw someone older. I do so hope that the sandwiches your lady serves aren’t prawns and mayo! Thanks for sharing:~)
@ Chris — You’re a hoot!!! I can just see this statue. This is very funny comment. Thanks for making me laught:~)
@ Jannie — I can identify with your comment. When I did this challenge, I saw my great aunt, who was always opening the door with a smile and a plate of cookies to share. She was such a loving woman:~)
@ Davina — I agree with you about Chris!! Dare me, my cheeks are pink…such as romantic image. I happen to love the name Colin. You made him seem so real….perhaps the Universe is listening. and maybe Colin is waiting for you?
@ Barbara — It’s interesting that a lot of people saw someone older. Do you also get clotted cream with your scones? YUMMY, YUMMY…tea and scones in the tummy:~) I’m glad you become a great friend and get hear her stories!
My first thought, even before you asked…was my grandmother. She was a very eccentric person and I could visualize her having this on her door. She would welcome anyone from anywhere to enter her home.
Great way to spark my memory for the day!
Tammy-Crickets last blog post..In Hiding…that’s all
@ Evita — I can see your butler him in my mind and I like that he has a very warm smile. I read a lot of British mysteries and the butlers usually aren’t very friendly:~)
@ Patricia — I believe teaching your class is very important and so, I understand…just come back when you can:~)
@ Lori — Wonderful image, but I can help but wonder what makes her sandwiches special…could they be magical? For me, I’d enjoy them too…as long as they aren’t prawn and mayo sandwiches:~)
@ Chris — This is a winner!!! I can see this statue so well…he’s very proper, except that he tends to lose his hand to the door. I loved this and thank you for making me laugh:~)
@ Jannie — I can identify with your comment. When I did this challenge for myself, the first person I thought of was a great aunt that lived near me when I was a child. She always welcomed us and shared cookies. Thanks for reminding me of her and sharing your comment:~)
p.s. I was a bit interested in the shiny black shoes…is there a story there?
@ Davina — You are so right about Chris…its a great image, isn’t it! On the other hand, dare me, but your image turned my cheeks a bit pink! Getting a bit risque in your comment, eh? A romantic rendezvous with a very attractive man named Colin…who knows maybe the Universe is listening…are you ready to meet Colin?
@ Cynthia — I envy you working a store that sells door knockers. I would love to visit such a store, especially if it sold older door knockers! Regarding who you saw, I like the image of a little girl. I can see her too and she’s dressed up in her mothers old evening gown with a string of fake pearls handing down to her waist and an old hat tilted on her head. She’ll keep you busy at tea time. Thanks for sharing this lovely image:~)
@ Barbara — Baked scones….yummy, yummy…especially with clotted cream…oh, the calories, but so delicious! I am ever so glad that you make friends with this woman. We can learn so much from those older than us. Although I’m getting to age where I could also be that woman…scary thought. Moving on, it’s funny that I just assumed she was British, but who knows she could be from anywhere! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this picture:~)
The door opens slowly as a little bird disturbed by the movement abandons
his nest-building efforts in the wreath of artificial flowers carefully fastened to the door. His cheerful chirps of annoyance fade into the shrubbery as I look up to see myself , my alter-ego, my doppleganger to use the precise term, smiling back at me. “So, you are real after all,” I mutter, “Yes, of course! You must be!”
“Someone I saw working in a store, last week,asked me about an assignment in her university . She swore that I was her professor in one of her classes. ”
“Obviously, I was and you were not!” laughed my duplicate. I turned and ran.
@ County Sneaky — Where’s the rest of the story? You got it started and I’d love to read the next installment:~)