An iron, or iron from the facade, is a functional element in wrought iron typical of Italian architecture, mainly present in Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria, especially in medieval and Renaissance era. The Dei Ferri also divided into various main categories: horse railings: equipped with a ring to tie the horses, they are positioned about 1.5 meters from the ground. In Florence, horse railings and harpoons were often decorated to look like Marzocco’s head, the lion symbol of the Republic of Florence. Subsequently, the representations expanded by including cats, dragons, horses and other fantastic animals.
It was absolutely forbidden to tie the horse with reins or bridle to the bells as it could be seriously injured in the mouth in case of strait, risking uncontrolled escapes, but for the head that surrounded its muzzle and ears. Another category i the wrought and modeled iron torch holder has an inverted hook with a circular band decorated with a lattice. A ring, also in wrought iron, hangs on the hook and blocked in the wall by another ring. Both the hook and the ring are adorned with circular decorations. Three harpoon, equidistant, are fixtures in the wall.
From the fourteenth century, these torch holders were placed in the Florentine buildings to tie horses and other beasts and to turn on torches overnight. Finally, the rings with a window or harpoons of curtains, equipped with cup -shaped hooks or swan necks to support shadow or drying sheets, positioned near the balconies.
