Where the Giant Ladies are...

OK, OK! I know...I've been away from my blog for, well...TOO long!! I'm sorry!! I now spend far more time out of the city now than I do in it so somehow the doors are not only physically farther away from me, they are psychologically farther away. But that is no excuse!! Afterall, I have a huge collection of photos of doors so I'll just have to put myself to the task of presenting them to you!

As a 'coming back' door, I thought I would share one that I have always loved and admired. Too bad the photos really do it no justice not only as regards its detail, but as regards its size. These ladies are HUGE!! The only way to photograph this door properly is to be in the middle of the street, but between the middle of the street and this door, there are always parked cars. I have been by this door a multitude of times, each time photographing the door in a different way. Today's presentation is a result of those many visits to see the 'ladies'!!

As is perhaps clear to all of us, these doors are a wonderful example of Art Nouveau. Every detail down from the giant, gracious ladies that frame the door to the smalles details such as the door's handle plate show repeated examples of nature's influence on the designer. Leaves, flower and other natural forms are classic elements in the flowing designs of Art Nouveau, and the typical use and re-use of certain plants such as mistletoe, thistles and horse chestnut leaves.

Signs of years of use and a bit of abuse.

A shot of what it looks like on the other side of the doors! For once, not a disappointment!

One final word, other than assuming that this door dates from the end of the 1800's, I do not know what the building's use was, but there is a monogram over the glass in the door which, if you look closely, you can see is an interlocked H and C.

Salve

Something new: TWIN DOORS!! I've shown you single doors, double doors, triple doors, quadruple doors, doors in doors, wide doors, really narrow doors, tall doors, Emily doors, metal doors, lots of wood doors and so on, but until now, I have never shown you twin doors.

Sadly, these twin doors have been missing some loving care, but we can still see what they and the whole ensemble once offered. Begin with the enormous eagle that hovers over the doors; a powerful wing protecting each door. (Those white lines you see are not reflections, but are actually paint lines...why, I don't know!!)

Each door (or rather each set of doors) has identical undulating lines, flowers, shells and scrolls yet the design of the doors, while exactly the same, is unique.

The twin doors are set within strong high arches which keeps them from looking heavy or austere, without taking away any of their value. A small foyer separates the doors from a delicate, but imposing wrought-iron gate which folds in half on each side.

On the floor of the foyer, designed in the polished stone floor, is the word 'Salve'. I don't know if this is the name given to the building or if it was the name of the owner (original owner) of the building or perhaps it is the name of a store that was once here...hard to say.

NOTE: I would like to thank all of you for your lovely comments to my 100th post. I have enjoyed finding doors and sharing them with you. Many of you have told me that you have started 'hunting' doors as well and have even sent me photos of doors you have found. Thank you so much!! I have decided that I will dedicate one day a month to posting 'guest doors'. So, if you find a door that you would like to eventually see here, please share it with me and I will do my best to post it in time!

Sober but Beautiful

It was a cold, end-of-Winter day when I took these pictures. Nevertheless, I don't know if a sunny sky would have changed the soberness of this door. Either way, the door is beautiful even if, at first appearance, it is somewhat 'timid'. I have no qualms with the brown paint on this door...I can't say whether it would have originally been painted a different color, but I can imagine that it was probably something like this, if not only slightly different.

What I find wonderful about this door is the beveled glass windows!! Sure, they are quite simple...just small rectangles, but they have been framed in such a way as to render the door even more endearing. On each door there is a lower row of three implied windows where, in actuality, only the center rectangle has glass in it; above this row is a row of three windows where the center one is slightly taller than it's surrounding windows, giving the impression that it is trying to pull our eye upward; and finally, above the door is another set of three small windows surrounded by other windows. These are simple elements, but I find them incredibly effective!

In the middle-lower part of each door, there is a Art Nouveau style carving of mistletoe. This mistletoe repeats the theme in the door's arch where mistletoe surrounds the lady's head and flows gently around the top section of the arch. Simple and enchanting!

If you click on the picture of the door handle, a larger version of it will come up in a separate screen. When it does, look closely at the brass plate that goes with the handle...it has small, but simple designs on it...very charming! Speaking of designs, though, I'm not too sure why it was necessary to add the spiral carving in vertical piece that covers the seam of the two doors...Maybe it was put there in anticipation of that part of the door being knicked and scratched by keys when the door is being opened and closed and like that, any small damage won't be so obvious. I don't know, otherwise, why it would be put there. Any ideas?

A Jewel

If you have been following my blog for any amount of time, you have surely already come to the conclusion that there are a lot of interesting doors in Prague and that the supply seems to be endless. I could put only the creme-de-la creme doors on here each day, but then that would leave you without all the other doors that, while maybe less glamorous, are nevertheless interesting and beautiful doors that deserve being noticed, appreciated and even loved.

All week you have seen honorable and worthy doors, so I thought that today you deserve to see a little jewel (in my opinion!)...it is definitely very nice - not THE top of the top, but certainly lovely and inviting. So much so that it makes my heart go pitter-patter (yes, call me strange, but a pretty door makes my heart leap a bit!). I like all the elements of this door: its columns that are completely different from each other; the oval window under the delicate garlands; the terrace that protects the frame and the door; the various faces that watch over the door; the colour of the wood; the movement of the carved wood; the romantic simplicity of the overall design; and finally, the door's accessories.

As a little cherry on top, if you look at the photo of the close-up of the window you will see a pretty reflection of part of another beautiful door located just across the street (I will post that door some other time)...just please don't mind the reflection of the car!!

Hey! Cheer Up!

As you can imagine, I am always on the look-out for doors, but for some reason I tend to be immediately attracted to doors that are made of wood...especially wood that isn't painted.

When I saw this door and went up close to it, I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the faces on it. They don't look terribly happy, but they do provoke one to smile due to their expressions!

I can't say what epoque this door is, but it is a rather interesting mixture of carvings...geometric, floral and figurative..at least the handle is simple and sober.