Door Knocker

At a glance

• Family: Doors, Shutters & Hardware
• Periods most often found: Iron hand knockers date from the late 18th to the early 20th century; bronze lion-head knockers were made throughout the 19th century; Arts and Crafts and Art Deco knockers from 1900 to 1940.
• Typical price: about $120; range $30 to $600 and more for exceptional pieces
• What drives value: Age, design, size

What it is

Door knockers announced visitors long before doorbells. French examples are cast in iron or bronze and often take figural forms: lion heads, rings, dolphins and the famous hand holding a ball, sometimes called a hand of Fatima, common in southern France and Spain from the 18th and 19th centuries. English and American knockers favor urns, eagles and rings.

How to identify and date it

An old casting shows softened detail from handling, worn strike plates and layers of paint or patina in the crevices; reproductions are often too crisp or show sand-casting grain on the back. Check the hinge pin, the strike plate and mounting holes, and whether the knocker was made for a thick door.

Periods and styles

Iron hand knockers date from the late 18th to the early 20th century; bronze lion-head knockers were made throughout the 19th century; Arts and Crafts and Art Deco knockers from 1900 to 1940.

How much is it worth?

On the US retail market, most door knocker examples ask around $120. Simple or worn pieces start near $30, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $600. The main value drivers are: age, design, size. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.

Before you buy

• Check the hinge
• Look for a matching strike plate
• Inspect for cracks
• Plan mounting through the door

Living with it

A hand knocker on a painted front door instantly signals a French or Mediterranean house.