
- Pair of doors
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Pair of doors
- Place of origin:
Gannat (made)
- Date:
1200-1300 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown
- Materials and Techniques:
Oak with wrought iron
- Museum number:
M.396-1924
- Gallery location:
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 64b, The Simon Sainsbury Gallery, case WS
One of the commonest medieval uses of ironwork was for the protection of wooden doors, such as these, and chests. Both of these object types required strengthening for durability and security, and so elaborate hinges were designed to cover much of the surface and act as both a hinge and a guard. Hinge scrollwork could be extremely elaborate, and was often stamped with dies or chiseled for further embelishment. Iron was expensive in the Middle Ages, and these substantial doors are likely to have come from an important building. The hinge-work on the present doors represent a remarkable survival.