Waiting for Glory

If you take a walk around Prague, anywhere around the center, you will very probably come across one, if not several, buildings from the art nouveau period. Some of these buildings have been restored to impeccable beauty while others are waiting their turn to be brought back to their original glory. The building that owns this door is across the street from the Parliament Building so one would assume that it would be admired and respected, but helas such is not the case. Granted, the door is not in a state of decadence, but it isn't glowing in the glory of it's beauty either.

There are some very lovely details such as the sculptures over the door, the lamp, the leafy arch, the beautiful shape of the window over the door, the various elements on door which despite being simple, complete the overall look and feel of the ensemble.

Of course, the door's handle is the smallest detail that completes the art nouveau theme nicely. This is another door that I find truly beautiful...I do hope that one day it will be loved again and respected...and that someone will have the decency to at least move the garbage bins away from it!

Proud

In my opinion, some doors give off vibes...yesterday I told you that I could almost hear that sad door whimpering; on another day, I felt the door was saying 'hello, look at me' to everyone who walked by it. Well, I have the strong impression that today's door gives off pride vibes. Afterall, look at him: he's fine, he's happy, he's good-looking and he knows it!

Proud door here has a wonderful door frame (notice the proud lions' heads?), an iron-work halo that is cheerful and up-lifting, his carvings are fabulous, he is clean, oiled and well looked after and even his door handles are fabulous! I think he has lots to be proud of!

Look But Don't Touch!

As doors go, this one is a real stunner!! This is one of those doors that you look at and only a few moments later do you realise that you have momentarily stopped breathing because you have been absolutely taken in by its beauty. After those initial moments of awe and door-lust, your head clears again and your eyes hear what your ears cannot - the message the door is sending out: "Look, but do not touch". Have you noticed that there is no door handle (just a key hole)? And what about that triangular peep hole...it surely isn't there for you to look in, rather it is for whoever is behind the door to look out (and to shooo you away probably!!). The icing on the cake is the trio of prickly looking flowers at the top-center...I bet they would draw blood if you touched them! (Ok fine, so maybe not...but you never know!!) And check out the scary face on the door frame smack above the door - it looks like it could come unstuck from it's hold at any moment and jump off and bite into you (are you scared now???)!

I like this door very much, but I have to tell you a little truth about it...it is not old. Nope. Sorry. It is new. Yes. But don't hold that against it because, afterall, every door has to come into existence at some point and this one just came into existence more recently (like a few years ago). The craftsmanship of this door is extraordinary as is that of the wrought-iron work above it. The door frame is just slightly ornate, but nothing to take away from the richness of the door itself - the two compliment each other nicely.

(As with all the pictures here, just click on a picture for it to open in a separate window.)