Door knocker with backplate

Pilsen, Bohemia, late 17th/early 18th century

Forged, hammered, grooved and engraved wrought iron. This door knocker and incised backplate is made of wrought iron. Fashioned from

oval-shaped round bar, the solid iron knocker is swage-mounted on both sides. Cleaving has been used to shape each end into acanthus leaves. The reinforced central knob has been hammered into the shape of a heraldic lion head. All of the decorative elements on the knocker are finely engraved and enchased. The square bar hinge (console) holding the knocker is curved into a smooth eyelet. The symmetrically hammered

and cut Baroque backplate is composed of stylised acanthus leaves progressing into flat, richly grooved shapes. At the bottom, the backplate is replaced by an anvil.

H: 34 cm / W: 22.5 cm

UMP 3586

The door knocker was part of the gate to the Pilsen Hetmanship (Republic Square no. 130) until 1886, when it was donated to the museum and shown in the first permanent exhibition.