2870 Spider gates

Bizarre request this, but does anyone have any idea where I could get some spider-shaped iron gates? I've just bought a gateless property in Puglia and early investigations have proved fruitless. I've seen many spider gates in Calabria but none in Puglia. Having first spotted them on the Godfather, I'm also concerned that they may have connotations. Could anyone shed any light or point me in the right direction?

Many thanks,

Gillina the contadina

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 07:17

I'm not coming to your house..

[CENTER][I][COLOR="Navy"]Bound in a cobweb dungeon dim
My jailer, a spider huge and grim
Amid the carrion bodies do lie
The worm, the bug and the murdered fly..[/COLOR][/I][/CENTER]

:) :)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 07:23

Have you got a picture you could attach Gill, I can't imagine what they look like. :confused: :rolleyes:

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 08:10

Ha Ha. Well thanks to the wonders of technology and my husband here's a still from the Corleone house. Although this is a window, we saw several similar spidey-style gates in Calabria.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 08:24

I would imagine you would have to have something like this made by a blacksmith.. a 'maniscalco' or 'forgiatore'.. and I'm still not coming to your house.. even uninvited! :D

:) :)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 08:35

Oooo, never seen anything like that before. Wouldn't it be like living Halloween every day, still, it would keep the kids away ;) :eek: ;)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 09:00

So you ain't going to Gills house either then eh Paula? :D

:) :)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 09:06

But I have the prettiest little parlour that you ever did spy!!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 10:46

the number of spider gates could be connected to the belief that the spider brings good fortune-if you wish to grow and thrive let the spider run alive.also,the cult of tarantism started in taranto in puglia in the 1300s.locals believed that if they were bitten by a tarantula they would die unless they undertook a frenzied dance to remove the poison.this dancing could last for days and end in exhaustion-those who believed this formed a cult.so the connection between spiders and the south is a strong one.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 11:58

Wow, fascinating stuff and if you've seen me dancing, appropriate too. I feel duty bound to get some now.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 03/05/2006 - 15:50

Gilly

Count me out too, very spooky. I spend my time getting rid of them, certainly wouldn't visit someone celebrating them, pretty parlour or not.
You will need a darn good Fabro & loads of money. Ring 'round & give them a design. My tastes are more classical.

Lavender Field

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/07/2006 - 09:44

Gill, I agree that you`ll have to ask a fabbro (can`t imagine they sell them in Brico!) - there are plenty of fabbri around. However, I reckon the gates could be expensive to make - I`ve never seen anything like them round here.:eek: I`d also check with the locals whether there is any folk-lore attached to them - it`s very easy to make a gaff!!
Hazel