hard to find and highly collectible 19th century ornamental cast bronze metal victorian era "doggie" figural doorknob designed and fabricated by the metallic compression casting co., boston, ma. the residential entrance doorknob and oversized backplate contain lightly incised markings (i.e., maker and patent date respectively) along the shank, backside of the doorknob and around the thimble of the backplate. both the escutcheon and doorknob were mounted to a custom-built hardwood plaque. the finely crafted doorknob features a centrally positioned dog with outstretched paws in sunken relief. the serrated rim with greek style palmettes and anthemions contains wear consistent with age. the highly detailed doorknob was designed and patented by ludwig kreuzinger for the metal compression casting company, boston, ma. likely fabricated around 1868-70. the metallic compression manufactured "house trimmings", such as knobs, hinges, escutcheons, bell pulls, along with dies for printing wall paper, and for bookbinders, and a variety of articles. the inventions of charles and michael smith, introduced with complete success into practical operation by the metallic compression casting company at their foundry in bomerville, near boston, revolutionized metallurgic art, so far as casting is concerned. by employing the patented process developed by smith and mason, metal was taken from the mould, not with a rough surface, as in all the heretofore known modes of casting, but as smooth and perfectly finished as a coin or medal struck by a die. the doorknob is part of the len blumin collection purchased outright by urban remains. all of the figural doorknobs were used in blumin's early 1980's book, "victorian decorative art: a photographic study of ornamental design in antique doorknobs."