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.

Waiting...

Why do I call this door 'Waiting'? Because, in my opinion, it is..

Waiting to be looked after...

Waiting to feel Regal.

Waiting to be cleaned, painted and polished.

Waiting to be beautiful and to be noticed...once again.

Oh! And waiting for wonderful, old door handles!

(The above handle is actually plastic!)

P.S. this door also falls under my 'sad' category

Palace Parking

This is a magnificent door and doorway. So could someone PLEASE tell me why anyone in their right mind would allow parking signs - TWO OF THEM! - to be planted practically RIGHT IN FRONT OF this fabulous entrance?? They practically hide the two beautiful lamp posts and they certainly take away from them! Look at the above picture and what does your eye zoom to first...the red circle. Oh how sad!! This door so deserves more respect. Look at the building...it is an old palace, but you don't need me telling you that...it seems rather obvious, doesn't it. Everything about the building has a strong rich feel to it and this archway just sings out songs for those who have the ears to listen to them.

Regrettably, the doors were open when I went past, so I couldn't really get a good shot of either one of them (and I have a little rule to myself to not be an annoying touristy-looking person that assumes they can just walk up and in through the doorway and take all the pictures they want..not cool), so you'll just have to be satisfied with what I have for you here. On the other hand, though, because the doors were open you get a glimpse of what is behind them! I think this sounds like a fair trade-off!

Check out the wrought-iron work...isn't it amazing? Just a few bits of gold on the section above the door...

and plenty on the wrought-iron balcony railing above the door's arch. The sober stonework of the arch has just enough to make it interesting, but not so much that it takes away from the beauty of the metal work. I like this door. Everything about it is impressive including it's size!! (P.s. to give you an idea of the size of the door the man/guardian in the first two pictures was very tall!)

A Jewel in need of a Buffing

We've seen one of these many times before...a door that could use a bit of love. It wouldn't take much to put this pretty door back into shape...a window, a bit of cleaning and maybe some paint...most of all, a bit of love. Et VOILA!!

This beautiful door frame is a wonderful, yet simple example of the Art Nouveau period with it's delicate repeating stylised flowers hugging the entire frame.

The ironwork here is subtle yet charming. It not only repeats the stylised mistletoe that is found in the door's frame, but it contains gentle, flowing swirls and coils in just the right places to make the door what it is meant to be...a barrier. There are lots of tiny details as well such as the coil effect on the frames around the door's windows, the tiny repeating design up the center of the door (see below) and, of course, the lions that are there looking sweet and gentle even if their presence is meant to ward off harm.

The door's handles with their regal looking lions are serious handles made in a way that you feel like the person that created them really knew what he was doing and gave them not only a strong sense of style, but made them perfectly functional - which is not always the case with door handles despite their necessity to be so!!

Thanks to the broken window, I was able to photograph what is behind this door. Isn't that a fabulous mosaic floor!? Wow. Personally, I think it is gorgeous....I just regret that there is a row of unsightly garbage bins covering up so much of it and ruining the effect of this wonderful floor. The rest of the entryway (foyer) is just as handsome because the Art Nouveau designs are repeated in the arches and ceiling areas.

Delicate Metal

I have mentioned on numerous occasions that I am partial to wood doors especially because of their warmth, but whenever I see wrought-iron doors like this, my heart can't help but skip a beat. Might I compare it (loosely) to loving your daily cup of coffee, but occasionally craving a cup of hot chocolate? I don't know, but you can see for yourself that this door is really delicate and charming. What is there not to like about it?

I'm sure you've noticed that something is up with the handle. After close scrutiny, I think we can safely assume that once upon a time the door's handle was on the left side rather on the right side where that round handle and it's plate is now. Too bad whoever put it there couldn't bother to respect the colour or the style of the door, but at the very least it is not too conflicting.

This beautiful door is surrounded by an arch that is simple and strong, yet with enough character to make you want to stop and give it a long look.

Finally, it is possible I also fell for this door because of the adornment above it..a lion and the letter H...two of my favourite symbols.

Pride, Strength, Honour, Knowledge? What does it all mean?

ZOOM IN and you see the shield for the Italian Embassy (Ambasciata d'Italia) and some incredible wrought-iron work in an arch.

ZOOM OUT a bit and you see two enormous eagles contorted around a door frame in a position that signifies strength and pride.

ZOOM ALL THE WAY OUT and you see a fabulous metal door decorated with intricate details, the two attentive and proud eagles AND two gentlemen (well, sculptures of them!) sitting on giant scrolls high above the door. Honestly, I don't know if I would be scared or honored to walk through this door...what does it all mean??

I honestly doubt that when the Italian Embassy decided to use this location that it changed the door or its frame (sure, they very likely had it all cleaned and repaired, but not changed)...so what exactly this door, it's frame and sculptures (and the additional smaller side doors on each side of this main door) saw and represented before, I don't know. If I knew something I would tell you, but unfortunately I don't though I will make the simple and rather obvious assumption that this building's original function was either in connection with the church (remember the Clementinum) or having to do with education (university), which, in the end comes back to church since in the past, scholars always had some connection to the church.

A Solid Beauty

For your upcoming weekend* I offer you the above rose and the beautiful door it has 'grown' on.

This lovely door (and entry) has a quiet beauty that gives a heart strength...well, perhaps I'm speaking for myself here, but I find that when I look at this door I feel not only peace, but calm. Can a door really do that? Take a look for yourself and tell me what you think.

*The first photo is my contribution to 'Weekend Reflections', a meme by James of Newtown Area Photo. For more information please see here.

Stone Cold

I think this door and it's frame have a certain beauty and merit being discussed. The huge door is really very nice, but honestly, the ensemble leaves me a bit cold. No, I don't want to say I don't like this door, I guess I just feel a bit chilly when I look at it. Even though there are several figures and faces around this door, I just can't seem to find any warmth or cheerfulness when I look at it. Odd that I have this impression of the door because each element does have charm. Perhaps it is I that is the odd one..yes, this is quite possible!

Sunday Door

This church to which this door belongs is located on a small but very busy street where the trolley-bus' go by almost constantly. Actually, getting this picture meant standing in the middle of traffic (literally!) and waiting for an opening! This big, incredible door deserves better, but what can I do? A passing glimpse of it from the trolley-bus is perhaps better than nothing at all...but still. The door has a lovely, generous door handle, but I just can't imagine anyone actually using it given the fact that it is so hard to access which leads me to believe that it is a side entrance...I'll just have to go back and find the front entrance! Here, I've given you the chance to see what you would only see in passing were you to take, for example, tram 22 from Malostranske Namesti.

For more information about the church and a virtual tour from its tower, see here.

Sad Door Saturday

This poor door has surely seen better days. Despite the graphitti and the ugly door handle, I think the situation is reversible, don't you? If this door was given a few days of some serious TLC, I believe it could once again be a beautiful and even spectacular-looking door!!

The People's(?) Door

This door, or rather, this set of doors is at once cold and unforgiving and tactile and warm. How could this be? Well, of course this is my opinion so take it for what it is worth, but the metal is cold and not easily penetrated, but the brass that it is made of is, underneath the patina is a warm golden orange. In the area around the door's handle and other areas that are touched regularly, we can see how the door has remained (or become?) its original warm color due to the repetative act of hands reaching for the handle...even some of the screws have been rubbed to a glowing gold.

The scarfed head of a woman over the door and the two small children that flank her clearly make reference to work, or the work of the people.Think of those famous Russian propaganda posters of the scarfed woman working in the fields or in a factory. The symbolism of the child with the beehive refers the the way bees are diligent workers that work as part of a group or community. The other child holding a bundle of wood (?) again underlines the work theme showing the fruits of labour. To complete the working theme are the two sculptures of men on the terrace who are wearing working clothes and are holding materials of their trade which both seem to have to do with industry.

I find it interesting how the side view of the woman's head seems much friendlier and softer than the front view. From the front she seems very serious, but from the side, I don't get the same impression. What do you think?

Colourful Door Monday

In nature, red is a colour that puts animals on the alert and is the color that tells them to 'watch out!'. In our world, red is often used in the same way i.e. a red light at an intersection, a red Stop sign, a red blinking light that could represent an alarm, etc. When I saw this red door and what it is to, I right away went into a state of alert. It is the German Embassy and the German Embassy found it necessary to put 3 (yes, THREE) surveillance cameras on it.

I took all this as a warning sign for me to keep my distance and to not get any closer..how could I...I was too scared!! If I had had the courage, I would have gone up to the door handle and taken a picture of it. Sorry!

Grey Beauty

I didn't call this blog 'The Door Hunter' for nothing...finding doors is like any kind of hunting...whether it be for mushrooms, wabbits (naw, only Elmer Fudd hunts wabbits!), a house or flat or for a job. It's about going out and looking and looking until you find what pleases you. Door hunting is just that. I see lots of doors, but not too many that I want to photograph. But when I saw this door, I knew I HAD to photograph it.

This door has a quiet, cold beauty to it. It's decorations are romantic, the grill work in the door itself is like a delicate song (the grill work over the door is an entire concert!) and the door does what the door should do...it protects! Sure, it isn't warm and kind like a wood door is, but it has more than made up for that by having lots of sweet, light designs decorating it. Tell me you don't like this door...try!! (And if you really don't...tell me why, please!)

Symbols

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I worked just around the corner from this door for 7 years and it was only after I quit that job that I noticed this door!! OK, to be fair to myself, I wasn't as 'into' doors at that time AND that street is really narrow so those many times that I walked by it, I had my head tucked down or was watching for traffic. What is important is that I did finally see it!! This is some kind of a side door to what is now a bank, though I think it was always a bank OR it was an insurance company. Either way, the building this door is on is located on a corner, therefore it is on two streets...this narrow street and a larger street. On the larger street side, this building is an absolute beauty!!! I looked at this building A LOT because it is just so incredible...perhaps for this reason I never noticed this door, but considering that the main side of this building is so beautiful, it isn't at all surprising that this door is.

There are many elements in the frame which carry a great deal of symbolism. Unfortunately, I do not know who's head is depicted at the top center of the arch...surely he was someone important (and maybe will always be), but I don't know who he is. On the other hand, the two babies very likely symbolise innocence and natural simplicity (according to a dictionary of symbols), while the vases symbolise not only the elexir of life but, because they are open at the top, openness to celestial influences. The eagle (or, in this case, eagles) is an often-used and very strong symbol which is often shown in the presence of gods or great men/heros.

In the wrought-iron work, there is a lion with a double tail - this is a famous and long-used Czech symbol that originated in the 13th century when the country had two kings and consisted of two parts - Czechia and Moravia - to symbolise this dual and combined sovereignty, the lion's tail was split into two. Today the symbol of the lion with the split tail is used in a multitude of places and ways, including on the country's coins and paper money.

Now, as for my personal analysis of this door! The door itself, though cold and uninviting, is still pretty with it's delicate decorations consisting of flowers, bands, and a delicate repeating border. I find the diamond-shaped sneak-a-peek window charming and the discrete mail slot endearing! I like the eagles in the arch and appreciate how they are not mirrors of each other, but unique in both the positioning of their wings and their feet. The wrought-iron work is admirable, but I don't think I will ever understand the practice of putting the strange dwarf-like faces in the designs...what could that mean?