La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I’ve started to go door-to-door in my photo explorations. Specifically, to doors within doors. I have many more photos to collect. Churches, especially, (and the Mesquita) have enormous doors with smaller doors set within. The small doors are used most often for daily access rather than opening the larger doors to the heat, cold, and elements. In churches and cathedrals, and in many grand old homes and palaces, both larger doors are often opened to allow greater access and visibility. And, since most of those grand old places open into large equally grand courtyards, having both large doors open allows access to the horses and carriages. Doornails are another fascinating thing. They were used to strengthen the doors but were installed in patterns for decoration. There are different kinds of doornails from simple to ornate and decorative. Soon, I’ll begin focusing on the nails. Here is a small sampling of the door-in-door trend.
It’s still hot. Temperatures are supposed to start dropping tomorrow, but will remain warm all week, just not intolerable. I’m still here.
He empezado a ir de puerta en puerta en mis exploraciones fotográficas. Específicamente, a puertas dentro de puertas. Tengo muchas más fotos que coleccionar. Las iglesias, especialmente (y la Mesquita), tienen puertas enormes con puertas más pequeñas dentro. Las puertas pequeñas se usan con mayor frecuencia para el acceso diario en lugar de abrir las puertas más grandes al calor, el frío y los elementos. En iglesias y catedrales, y en muchas grandes casas y palacios antiguos, ambas puertas más grandes a menudo se abren para permitir un mayor acceso y visibilidad. Y, como la mayoría de esos grandes lugares antiguos se abren a grandes patios igualmente grandes, tener ambas puertas grandes abiertas permite el acceso a los caballos y carruajes. Los clavos para puertas son otra cosa fascinante. Se usaban para reforzar las puertas, pero se instalaban en patrones para la decoración. Hay diferentes tipos de clavos para puertas, desde simples hasta ornamentados y decorativos. Pronto, comenzaré a centrarme en los clavos. Aquí hay una pequeña muestra de la tendencia de puerta en puerta.
Todavía hace calor. Se supone que las temperaturas comenzarán a bajar mañana, pero se mantendrán cálidas toda la semana, pero no intolerables. Sigo aquí.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Interesting that the smaller doors don’t go all the way down.
ellen abbott:
I’m sure it has something to do with the construction, strength, and wearing of the doors.
Ellen,
And then I noticed the second door does! So much for that theory. Except that I walked by it again last night and the bottom of the small door was in terrible condition.
I will never tire of wallowing in the fantabulosa architecture of Cordoba – and the old doors are all wonderful! Jx
Jon:
Neither will I!
Thank you for one of my favorite posts. I love the small door in the big door concept. It’s more than just practical. It sets the imagination going.
Boud:
There IS something mystical about it. Like you just ate a little cake from the table that read “Eat Me.”
I knew about the doors-in-doors and I’d like one in my front door that makes it impossible for people to enter so that they’ll leave me alone, but the nail design thing is very interesting.
Bob Slatten:
I’ve never focused on the door nails. We’ll learn a lot, I’m sure.
I am not sure I’ve ever seen or even been aware of doors-in-doors until you started posting photos of them. Perhaps I have and have forgotten. This would not surprise me in the least. They would definitely come in handy when large things needed moving in or out and yes, for the admittance of horses and carriages.
Glad you’re still here. Keep it up.
M. Moon
Ms. Moon:
I think I first became aware of the doors in doors in Sevilla. Never gave them any notice before then. Now, I’m on the prowl. And another day, and I’m here!
And I am certainly glad.
LOVE these! Fascinating designs and work.
Our temperatures have switched into autumn gear over the past few days…….much cooler and tolerable.
Jim:
It’s only supposed to reach 32 today and 29 tomorrow! I guess this is autumn.
I love pictures of doors. It’s fun seeing all the different types and styles and colors. I often wondered with some places, the doors look so old and crumbling or mildewed, how they even hold any cool or heat in?
Mistress Borghese:
As tired as they are, the doors remain thick. The ones with holes are another story. Wouldn’t you just love to get your hands on one of those derelict buildings and lovingly restore it?
A great theme, you could publish the Book of Doors, or even more minutia, the doornails.
David:
Door nails are something I’d never thought about. Now I can’t wait to get out and explore them.
Oh, I love these, yes I do!
I’m sure I’d never seen this concept, until I lived in Paris. Thanks for sharing the Córdoba delights with us!
Judy C:
I never gave these doors any thought in all my years of travel. I finally woke up to them in Sevilla.
I love, love, love this post!!
Kelly:
I’m so glad. Thanks!
I love these doors, but for a second your title had me afraid you had become an Avon lady.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
Ding dong. Avon calling.
I bet they discourage burglars.
Kirk:
Unless they were burglars with battering rams.
Oh, very cool!
Rade:
And so much more to see. I can’t wait to get close-ups of the door nails.
I have never thought about a door within a door! These photos are great!
Michael:
They’re fascinating to see and I still get excited when I step through one.
Doors are great subjects; David like them too. Can’t remember when I saw my first door within a door… maybe in Durham UK back in the 80’s? Lots of them in Rome. On one trip the place I was staying had one and I went in and out of it all the time. The photos are great, esp. the blue door with the yellow surround (2981)-someone there had great color sense. I loved 2846, the squalid looking exterior with the door open to what appears to be an idyllic courtyard. It just screams “think about me”! 🩷🩷🩷
PS: And I love the doornail idea! Should turn out to be a great project.
wickedhamster:
Thanks. I’m excited about that. Tomorrow is supposed to be a very pleasant day. The photography will begin!
wickedhamster:
It is odd. I know I would seen those doors on my trips from the age of 19, but they never registered until we moved to Sevilla. Or maybe I just didn’t care about things like that. I love the ones you choice. The squalid opening to that beautiful courtyard always surprises me. It’s just minutes from the mezquita on a very busy touristy restaurant street. I don’t know why the exterior of the building hasn’t been maintained.
I always assumed the big doors were for horses and carriages and the small doors for people. Which is basically what you’re saying, I guess. Are those the type of doornails that inspired the “dead as a…” phrase? I wonder why doornails somehow became the epitome of death?
Steve:
I don’t think all the big doors were meant for horses and carriages. The ones that are have sloped stone thresholds and you can see the wear of the carriage wheels in them.
Dead as a doornail dates back to the 1300s and refers to how when they were hammered through the door and stuck out the other side, they were then dead-headed on the back (hammered flat never to be removed again, without difficulty).
Doornails! I’ve always seen them, but have never really SEEN them, if you know what I mean.
Walt the Fourth:
It’s the same for me. Time to really see them.
Love these doors.
The thing is, you can find them all over where the colonizers went: Central and South America and the Caribbean. You can find some in South Florida and Southern California also.
They used to allow horses and carriages to go in without losing privacy, as you said (remember the courtyards were part of the private part of the house, very Harem, very Moorish). The small doors were everyday doors.
The craftsmanship of the nails is off the hook.
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser,
I spent an hour last night. taking pictures of doornails.
I still want to open these types of doors hoping one of them will take me to someplace enchanted.
Urspo:
Oh, so do I! There are often stunning garden courtyards behind the doors. A moment of enchantment.