Treat yourself to a designer door knocker! 

Far more stylish than a classic doorbell, the door knocker gives your front door a sense of style! Full of history, both useful and decorative, door knockers are becoming fashionable again and are sought after by interior designers. It is impossible not to fall for a designer door knocker!

The key points to know everything about the door knocker:

What is a door knocker?

Designer door knockers: 4 irresistible models

How to fit a door knocker?

Discover all the essentials to know about the door knocker! Its history and its strong comeback on the exterior doors of our modern homes! 

What is a door knocker?

A door knocker, also known as a door hammer, is used to strike the exterior face of a front door in order to alert the occupants to one's presence. It became widespread in France from the Middle Ages. From a simple audible alert reserved for religious monuments, the antique door knocker became, during the 18th century, an indicator of social status, adorning the exterior doors of bourgeois homes with artistic sculptures.

Description of a door knocker

A door knocker, whose synonym is door hammer, is made up of two parts:

• a mobile part, often in the shape of a ring, a hammer or a mallet
• a fixed part that serves as the mounting point on the exterior side of the door and to which the mobile part is attached. 

The mobile part is used to strike the fixed part (the strike plate): the sound produced informs the occupants of the premises of a visitor's presence. 

History of the door knocker

The first door knockers appeared in France in the 11th century, on the doors of churches, episcopal palaces and abbeys. Ancient door knockers were simple hammers attached to the end of a rope or thick string. They then gradually took the form of wooden or stone rings. It was only later that they were made of metal, which increased their sound level.

In the 17th century, visitors announced their presence by striking the bottom of the door with their heel. 

In the 18th century, hammers gradually became works of art adorning bourgeois homes. As pieces of ironwork, their size and shapes diversified. The decorative richness of the door knocker reflected the social status of its owner. These purely utilitarian objects then became outward signs of wealth.

Simple rings give way to marmousets (figurines), lion heads, dragons, serpents, salamanders and other chimeras! While other models are less extravagant in inspiration: fruits, various plants, farm animals (ram or pig) or hands. In bronze or cast iron, some door knockers are true works of art.

Door knockers gradually disappeared from our doors in the 20th century, overtaken by modern doorbells.

Designer door knockers: 4 irresistible models

Just when we thought they had disappeared, door knockers are reappearing on our doors! 

Modern doors no longer display elephant head hammers but rather door knockers with an ultra-contemporary design.

Door knockers: decorative objects or useful objects?

The modern door knocker retains this duality. It is both a useful object as it serves as an audible alert, while also being a decorative item. Placed right in the centre of your front door, at eye level, the door knocker proudly displays itself to your visitors. 

A doorbell pales in comparison to an antique lion's head door knocker or a designer brass or bronze door knocker brought up to date!

Traditionally made from cast iron, wrought iron and bronze, modern door knockers are now offered in zamak (a zinc and aluminium alloy), brass (a copper and zinc alloy) or stainless steel. Resistant to corrosion, the door knocker requires no maintenance.

Ideal for standing out, the designer door knocker deserves to reclaim its place on the front doors of our homes. The door knockers below are the finest illustration of this.

Classic-inspired door knockers

Decorative hardware offers a wide range of door furniture products (door handle, door knob, lock, door viewer or door stop) suited to all interior decoration styles, from the most futuristic to the most classic. Door knockers are making a strong comeback in our shop catalogues.

The elegant door knocker 

The refined design of this brown brass door knocker is of rare elegance. Paired with the door handle of the same finish, the decorative result will be perfect on a classic door.

Antique-style door knocker - Ref Mandelli Model 102 

Material: brass

Finishes: black, satin chrome, polished chrome, gold, satin nickel

The royal door knocker

This model draws inspiration from the codes of royal ornamentation... The polished chrome finish modernises this door knocker, which can enhance a classic exterior door as well as a modern white lacquered door. 

Classic door knocker - Ref Victorian

Material: polished brass

Finish: polished chrome, gold or bronze

Door knockers with a contemporary design

The modern door knocker

The round fixing rose is small in size to highlight the finely chiselled gold two-tone ring. The strike plate (the part struck by the ring) is the same size as the rose, creating a perfect balance.  

Round door knocker - Ref Tondoa

Finishes: two-tone black and gold or antique bronze

The revisited baroque door knocker

This model blends modernism with classicism. Its round fixing rose highlights the central spheres that generate voluptuousness and elegance. The gold and black finish adds a luxurious touch while the bronze patina creates a vintage style.

Designer door knocker - Ref Barocco

Material: solid brass

Finishes: two-tone black and gold or bronze

How to fit a door knocker? 

You don't need to be a carpentry or locksmithing expert to install a door knocker!

List of materials for fitting the door knocker

Like many door furniture products, the door knocker is supplied with all the parts needed for its installation.

Parts included with purchase: 

. The door knocker (the 2 fixed and mobile parts may be separated depending on the model)

. Fixing screws: wood screws are preferred to avoid using a drill for a wooden door. If screws are not supplied, make sure to use short screws to avoid going through the door.

Tools for fitting the door knocker:

. Screwdriver

. Tape measure to measure the centre of the door 

. Wooden wedge (if you wish to install the door knocker without closing your front door)

Installing a door knocker

How to position the door knocker?

As a general rule, the door knocker is positioned at eye level so that it is immediately spotted by the visitor. Moreover, it is much easier to handle with the arm raised. As a guide, aim for a height of between 150 cm and 170 cm.

The door knocker is often placed in the centre of the door. In this case, check the centre measurement to position your new acquisition ideally. There is nothing to stop you from offsetting it and fixing it to one side, if your door features raised mouldings for example.

How to install a door knocker?

Fitting your door knocker is easy. You simply need a screwdriver suitable for the screws generally supplied with the door knocker.

Installing a door knocker on a wooden door is the simplest option. Indeed, you can use wood screws which avoid the need to use a drill to make holes. Position the door knocker in the desired location, then screw in the wood screws while holding the screwdriver straight and applying sufficient pressure to insert the screws properly.

Assembling the door knocker

Once the fixed part is secured to the door, you simply need to attach the second metal piece, an articulated part that causes the door knocker to resonate. Test it to check the resonance achieved. You will then be able to enjoy the reaction of your friends and neighbours who will discover the ram's head or the two-tone ring instead of the doorbell to announce their presence!

Is buying a door knocker on trend? Yes if you want to give your front door a unique style. Yes if you want to personalise your home by bringing the symbols of the past up to date! 

The ideal is to pair it with the exterior door handle of the same style.

Discover the full range of designer door handles, locks and other door accessories on the Mille Poignées online shop! From the lever handle to the pull handle, including the recessed handle for a pocket sliding door or the espagnolette bolt... the choice of handles for exterior and interior doors is exceptional! 

Do not hesitate to contact us for any DIY or decorating questions! Our experts are at your service!