Cockshead Hinges

Date1675-1775

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Shenandoah Valley

MediumIron

Dimensions(A) 9 1/2" x 4 1/4"; (B) 9 1/4" x 4 1/4"

Credit LineDonated by Craig Jacobs

Object numberAF-XVA.2,A&B

DescriptionTwo "cockshead" door hinges believed to have been used on a full-sized door based on their size. 'Cockshead' hinges were so named because each of the four terminals was shaped into the head of a cockerel.Label TextHighly decorative iron cockshead hinges were used in early high-status Virginia and Maryland settlements. Fragments found in archaeological contexts confirm their presence during this period. In the American colonies, they were considered expensive imported items used to demonstrate the wealth and gentry status of the homeowners. While occasionally used for full-sized doors, they were most frequently applied to built-in cabinetry and furniture due to their decorative nature. These hinges were found in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.