Knock, knock...

 

You do not get much more French than these charming hand door knockers that you find on many old houses in France.
Nowdays you can buy a copy but the quality is not the same and you can tell the difference by the weight and feel. The old ones are very heavy as they are made from solid cast iron.

Thought to originate from the Hand —of Fatimaa palm-shaped amulet used to protect against evil—hand-shaped knockers are common in countries bordering the Mediterranean whence they spread to neighboring countries.

If you fancy one for your front door, we have just listed one in our etsy shop. It is in "as found condition"and was made in the 1800s.

À la prochaine, Leeann x