Ornate early doorbells

These early electric doorbells by Rene Binet date to the early 1900s (they were used at the 1900 Paris World Fair). Binet was inspired by Ernest Haeckel in his designs.

When electric doorbells were new

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: Art and Design

More at Boing Boing

The technology that links taxonomy and Star Trek

Hackers prepare for first "national holiday" in their honor

Anonymous

I have seen a couple of these around my late-19th century neighborhood here in France, where they’ve been as lovingly maintained as the Art Nouveau stained glass and tiles on the stone walls. WANT.
Anonymous

I hadn’t realized doorbells were so super-sexy.
andyhavens

Middle row, right side: reminds me of the mouse picture Xeni posted recently…
Rich Keller

Ornate is almost an understatement with some of these. It’s always fascinating to see design sketches like this, both as deisign and as an example of draughtsmanship.

I’d like to see some Steampunk stuff done in an Art Nouveau style sometime. Does anyone know of anything out there like that?
Anonymous

Aureoles. Somebody had to say it.

You were all thinkin’ it.
Anonymous

That’s clipart.

Just kidding.
razzberry2

I could swear that bottom middle one is from Malfoy Manor.
Kid Geezer

Just look at them.