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Thanks for the hand photo Roger. I've seen
several hand knockers and they are quite common. So, what
about this idea: to make the hand knocker function as a gnomon, what
if you used changed the hand design with the index finger pointing down.
The tip of the index finger would be the nodus!
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 9:33 PM
Subject: RE: Door Knocker Gnomon?
Hi
John,
It will not serve as a gnomon but my favourite door knocker is
the "Hand of Fatima". Great protection from the evil eye. You see them all
over southern Europe, in areas
influenced by the Moslems. Mine is a
brass casting from southern
France. Below is a typical
description that Google found. Sorry, no sundial content in this
email.
Roger Bailey
![]() Fatima's Hand
Door Knocker
Associated in Islam with healing
powers of Fatima, Prophet's daughter, and therefore regarded as bringing luck.
The hand of Fatima (hamsa) is favorite motif for pendants, door knockers,
hinges, etc. in Morocco and all Maghreb and Middle East. Such door knocker is
believed to guard people and buildings from bad luck.
Door Knocker Gnomons
Looking at that SGS on Carl's webpage got me
thinking. Has anybody ever seen a vertical sundial on a outside door
of a building that has a door knocker that doubles as a gnomon? I
wonder what the best type of gnomon would be? A cone or a triangular
gnomon might stab your visitors in the eyes.
How about a ball on a rod? The rod could
hang down from a hinge. The ball at the end of the rod would be the door
knocker. I envision a pretty brass sundial bolted to the door with the
brass door knocker gnomon hanging down in front of it. (You could even
attach a little handle to the rod and it wouldn't cast obnoxious
shadows.)
Tony, are you listening? This sounds like
something you could do.
John
p.s. I didn't see a door knocker on Carl's door
SGS. I guess a doorknocker on stained glass wouldn't be such a great
idea!
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