1985.R.806, Door knocker and backplate, France probably Bordeaux, c. 1700-1750

Made of polished iron, this beautiful door knocker is a fine example of French 18th-century metalworking. The knocker itself is wrought iron and consists of two confronted C-scrolls and a turned ball strike. The knocker was shaped on an anvil with hammers and the backplate was cut from sheet iron. The elaborate baroque-style scrollwork of the backplate is characteristic of early 18th-century examples, as is the use of decorative "buttons" where the knocker joins the hinge. A bolt behind the hinge secured the knocker to the door, while the backplate was held in place by nails driven through the visible holes. 

Made of polished iron, this beautiful door knocker is a fine example of French 18th-century metalworking. The knocker itself is wrought iron that was shaped with an anvil with hammers; the backplate was cut from sheet iron. The elaborate baroque-style scrollwork of the backplate is characteristic of early 18th-century examples, as is the use of decorative "buttons" where the knocker joins the hinge. A bolt behind the hinge secured the knocker to the door, while the backplate was held in place by nails driven through the visible holes. 

The buckle-form handle consists of two confronted C-scrolls and a turned ball strike. The a jour cutout scrolled backplate is a fine example of late French baroque design which is authoritative, yet elegant and airy. 

Until 1985: Emery Reves (1904-1983) and Wendy Reves (1916-2007) (owned jointly), La Pausa, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France [1]

From 1985: Dallas Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection, gift of Wendy Reves (1916-2007) [1]

[1] According to: Olivier Meslay and Martha MacLeod, From Chanel to Reves (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 2015), 4-5.

Apply to objects where number equals 1985.R.806