Roman Knockers 2024

 The Romans liked their architecture big and their palaces contained courtyards

with doors large enough to allow a horse and rider

or a coach to enter.

The doors often sported enormous door knockers.

With time the knockers became 

more decorative.

Animals appeared

with the knocker handles in their mouths.

Human faces appeared

and human hands.

I like this reference to Egypt.

John and I are partial to this popular wild man motif.

We also love these fantasy animals

especially these frightening creatues biting the bar.

This wild man seems a bit tipsy.

These erotic nymphs swirling beneath a Baroque shell make me want to knock on the door.

The Wabi-Sabis in Rome 2024

In Rome a few years ago Bill and I noticed this art installation made out of Scrabble letters

We got Italia, Bacio and Amore, but I wrote to the artists about Licita. They said, "The word is actually Felicità [happiness], looks like the F and E are missing."

Last year we were in Rome again and found this message in the maze of streets west of Campo dei Fiori. One of the tiles contained the artist's name: "words by wabisabi".

We also found Love, Free, Help, Yourself in a side street off Via Coronari.

Imagine our delight when we discovered the artists themselves installing a new piece on a wall by the door of the reliable Da Tonino,

a restaurant on Via Governo Vechio, near Piazza Navona. 

Romantica, Amore, Bella Vita, Pasta. Yes!

The artists introduced themselves as Mrs Wabi and Mr Sabi. Do you know the term wabi-sabi? OED: "a Japanese aesthetic...characterized by finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence, or simplicity."

The piece was commissioned by Francesa and Roni, who together run Da Tonino. Clever them! 

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Mr Wabi and Mrs Sabi make their home in Paris. Find more of their work on Instagram.