"The object is a representation of a door stud. It was cast in the UK. In Japan most temples have door studs. I might try and buy one when I next go to Japan. In fact most cultures have put studs on doors. They are usually either actually defensive - as in if you are trying to hack through a wooden door and it has bits of metal on it, its going to make the job much harder, or symbolically defensive - designating a sacred place where you might piss off the gods who revenge themselves upon your ass. Even your everyday door knocker could be seen as a stud. It also is akin to a keyhole. There are, I suppose, sexual connotations but as far as I can see a bit like faces, we tend to see them everywhere. I initially planned to add nuts and bolts but then thought it more interesting to think about attaching it to a door, than actually supplying the fittings to do it."