rare and unusual early 20th century heavy cast bronze figural passage size interior figural doorknobs depicting an african tribal head or possibly an egyptian pharaoh with headcloth. the uniquely shaped doorknobs retain the original brass set screws and cast iron spindles. the highly unique, customized "specialty hardware" doorknobs were likely made by sargent or possibly the p. & f. corbin company. the passage knobs were salvaged from the william v vanderbilt ii mansion (known as the "eagle's nest"), located in centerport, long island. the spanish revival mansion was built in three stages from 1910 until 1936. the mansion was designed by the new york architectural firm warren & wetmore, whose grand central station in new york city (1903-13) was designed and built for the new york central railroad, one of several vanderbilt family enterprises. later additions to the mansion and other estate buildings were executed by architect ronald h. pearce, who trained in the office of warren & wetmore and continued to make improvements at "eagle's nest" after warren's retirement in 1931. in 1933, tragedy struck the vanderbilt family when his 26-year-old son, william kissam iii, was killed in an automobile accident in south carolina while driving home to new york city from his father's florida estate. his son had inherited his father's love of fast cars and exotic travel and in his memory, willie k vanderbilt added a new wing to his eagle's nest home in long island to house memorabilia, trophies, and souvenirs including those from his son's african safaris. he then opened the estate for public viewing several days a week and organized his will so that upon his death the eagle's nest property along with a $2 million upkeep fund would be given to suffolk county, new york to serve as a public museum, the vanderbilt museum. three matching doorknobs available. priced individually.