Historical doorknobs are not just ornaments, they are “emojis” that contain important messages with the figures they carry! The study presented by the Near East University at the 7th Mediterranean Social Sciences Congress; It deciphers the messages of the doorknobs used in Cyprus, Gaziantep and Cunda Island!
Historical door knockers, as the most important complement to wooden doors, are historically and architecturally very important symbols. Moreover, in addition to their aesthetic beauties, they also give important clues about the culture of the region in which they are used. Doorknobs were also used as a means of messaging between the visitor and the host. It is possible to get answers to many questions such as the socio-economic status of the owner, his belief, whether the household is of marriageable age or not, from the symbols of the doorknobs.
Near East University Faculty of Fine Arts and Design graduate student Sevgi Özkıyıkçı and lecturer Assoc. Dr. The results of the study titled “Functions and Visual/Formal Analysis of Door Knockers” by Yücel Yazgın, which they presented at the 7th Mediterranean Social Sciences Congress, aroused great interest. Sevgi Özkıyıkçı, Assoc. Dr. The study prepared on the basis of the master's thesis completed under the supervision of Yücel Yazgın; The historical knockers used in Cyprus, Gaziantep and Cunda Island draw attention as they indicate the culture of the region and the houses they are used in.
Many messages are hidden in the doorknobs!
The study presented at the congress is quite interesting in that it reveals that doorknobs are not only used for ornamental purposes. Doorknobs are also the person or persons living in the houses where they are used; social tools that promote, carry and reflect their material-spiritual power, marital status, gender, culture and lifestyle. According to the research, as the most commonly used figures on doorknobs; animal head, animal body, flower motifs, female hands, human heads of two different genders and ring forms stand out.
For example, lion head and dragon knockers symbolize the economic power of those living in the house. Door knockers with hand figures mostly symbolize the marital status of people living at home. For example, in hand figured mallets, if there is a ring on the ring finger, it means that everyone in the house is married. If the ring is on the middle finger, a fiancee lives in the house; If there is no ring, it symbolizes that there are still single individuals living in the house. Door knockers using ring forms carry the message from outside to inside. Halkalı one of the doorknobs is large and heavy; two rings are used, the other being lighter and smaller. If the visitor is a man, use the big ring to knock on the door; the woman uses the small ring. Thus, the household learns the gender of the guest. In addition, the ropes attached to the mallets are also important messaging tools. If the owner is not at home, he informs the visitor of this with a rope tied to the doorknob. If the rope is short, it symbolizes that it will return soon, if it is long, it is further away.
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