Venetian Doorknob. Photo: Rogier Mentink

The Venetian doorknob is usually made in bronze and often isn’t a doorknob in the literal sense, to unlock the door with, but a handle to open the door or pull it close. Often they are provided with a ring, which serves doorknocker. The story goes that these door knockers stem from ancient Greece, where slaves used to be chained to the door in order to serve as porters. After removal of the slave the ring remained to knock on the door. Continue reading →