American Arts & Crafts, Monkey & Snake Wrought-Iron Door Knocker

Details

Description

American Arts & Crafts, Monkey & Snake Wrought-Iron Door Knocker

American Arts & Crafts, c. early 20th century
Dimensions: 17.5″ … Read more American Arts & Crafts, Monkey & Snake Wrought-Iron Door Knocker

American Arts & Crafts, c. early 20th century
Dimensions: 17.5″ H × 7.5″ W × 3″ D (Monkey 13.5″ H; Snake 6″ × 5″ × 3″ H)

This highly unusual and expressive Arts & Crafts wrought-iron door knocker features a stylized monkey, mounted on a wooden block, lifting a horizontal iron bar above its head, paired with a separate coiled serpent forged with hammered scales and a forked tongue. Together, the pair combine whimsy, craft, and symbolic resonance—transforming functional hardware into a work of sculptural imagination.

The monkey is elongated, expressive, and slightly grotesque in form, with webbed feet and an alert face, all hand-forged with visible hammer marks that testify to the artisan’s skill. The coiled serpent, its sinuous body wrapped in tight rings, offers a dynamic counterbalance to the vertical posture of the primate. The richly aged patina of the iron deepens the sense of authenticity and history.

Symbolism
The Monkey: In Western art, monkeys often embody playfulness, mimicry, and mischief, but also serve as allegories for human folly and curiosity. Within the Arts & Crafts tradition, such a figure could be read as a reminder of humility, wit, and the imaginative power of nature.

The Snake: The serpent has long symbolized dualities—danger and protection, temptation and wisdom, mortality and renewal. Its coiled form recalls the ouroboros, a symbol of eternity and cyclical time, as well as the protective guardianship often invoked in architectural ornament.

Together: The pairing of monkey and snake suggests a tension between curiosity and caution, play and peril, or humor and menace. Their theatrical juxtaposition makes the knocker not just functional, but also narrative—inviting reflection as well as use.

Design & Comparisons
While unsigned, this piece exemplifies the American Arts & Crafts ethos: elevating everyday objects through handcraft, honesty of materials, and imaginative design. Its character recalls the spirit of Samuel Yellin, America’s master blacksmith, whose work often wove figural and fantastical motifs into architectural hardware. It also resonates with the whimsical ironwork traditions of Roycroft artisans and European medieval revival blacksmiths.

Installation Options
The monkey can serve as the primary knocker, the raised bar pivoting to strike against the door. The snake may be mounted below as a symbolic anchor or separately on a threshold or gatepost, creating visual dialogue and narrative tension. Installed together, they form a dramatic focal point—an unforgettable finishing touch for a front door, secondary gate, or garden entry.

As a functional object, this knocker embodies the Arts & Crafts mission to merge utility with artistry, turning an everyday gesture—knocking at the door—into a moment of theater and storytelling. See less