Antique wood and copper door

I have walked past this antique style door many times over the years, and today I set out to photograph it as my New Mexico blip of the day. It is typical of grand antique Spanish doors found in many parts of Albuquerque.

The door craftsman starts out using salvaged wood and other antique bits and pieces from around the world, such as these copper strips and fittings with the nice patina. Seamlessly matching patinas with the reclaimed wood, along with other antique materials, makes for inspiring designs.

Some of the timbers used in these doors date from the 18th century. The use of antique raw materials together with outstanding craftsmanship produces a magnificent front door such as this one.

Note the ristras hanging on each side of the door. A ristra is an arrangement of dried chili pepper pods. Although their main purpose is to preserve chilis for later use, ristras are commonly used decoratively in New Mexico.