Antique and Victorian Style Door Hinges

When you hear the word ‘Victorian’ in relation to anything architectural or decorative chances are you mine immediately creates the image of something very elaborate or elaborately decorated.  The Victorian era was filled with people trying to constantly outdo each other when it came to buildings and decorating your home, resulting in flourishes and carving and embellishments on everything possible.  Items that were previously only made very simply, like door hinges and door knobs, were soon exhibiting much more intricate designs.  While some items received more attention to detail than others, particularly larger furniture pieces, it was obvious that attention was being paid to every item now instead of just a select few.

Ball Tip Hinge

Door hinges were always something that was seen as nothing more than a functional necessity in homes, and no one ever really thought to add any sort of design element to them.  Fortunately someone soon realized how much of an improvement a little detail could make in a home and started decorating every piece of hardware, particularly door hinges.

Steeple Tip Hinge

The trick of the hinges is that the designs that were so carefully carved and embossed on them could only be seen when the doors are open, which leads people to have a more open and inviting home.  The more decorative hinges someone has in their home, the friendly and more generous they were thought to be.

Antique Brass East Lake Hinge

Show your friends and loved ones how friendly and generous you are by switching out your plain door hinges with these more elaborate Victorian ones.  They add a touch of elegance to even the most modestly decorated home, and blend in with any decorating style.  They are available in several different finishes, making them easy to match with any current hardware you have in your home.  As always, we include any mounting hardware you will need to ensure that these match your home perfectly.

Craftsman Mail Slots

     If you have ever seen a Craftsman style home you can appreciate all of the hard work and thought that goes into decorating them and making sure that every last detail is perfect.  One of these details that is often overlooked on other styles of homes is the mail slot.  While these usually aren’t installed as functional pieces any more, they still add a special touch that makes the front door seem a little more finished and inviting as opposed to being a solid piece that can often seem cold and uninviting.

The oil-rubbed bronze variety of finish is most popular for a craftsman style decor.

 

     The Craftsman style does not have an intricately decorated feel to it.  Instead, the focus is on how various pieces are created, and using materials and craftsman that are local rather than using a mass-marketed piece.  The simple four square cutout design found in each corner adds just enough detail to make the piece distinguishable from any mass produced items.  Since they are hand forged and decorated it is almost expected that each piece be slightly different than the next with no two exactly alike.  The ability to let these flaws occur and appreciate them rather than turn your nose up at them sets the Craftsman style apart from many other different architectural styles.  Some of the homes that utilize these mail slots actually do have them installed as functional pieces. This craftsman/mission style mail slot is perfect for craftmen or mission style homes. The simple design lends itself to this style which focused on the quality of hand craftsmanship over perfection in design.

 

     These pieces are available in the oil rubbed bronze, antique brass and polished brass and come in two different sizes.  It is important that you measure your current mail slot before ordering to ensure that you get the right size piece for your door.  Oil rubbed bronze is the most popular choice when it comes to hardware and decorating a Craftsman style house, and really makes a huge statement that the polished brass cannot.  All necessary mounting hardware is included in the purchase of these pieces.

Mission Revival and Craftsman Drawer Pulls

     The Mission Revival Style was an architectural movement that began in the late 19th century for a colonial style’s revivalism and reinterpretation, which drew inspiration from the late 18th and early 19th century Spanish missions in California.  The  movement enjoyed its greatest popularity between 1890 and 1915, through numerous residential, commercial, and institutional structures, particularly with schools and railroad depots, that used this easily recognizable architectural style.

    The Mission Revival style is often lumped in with the Craftsman style, and for good reason.  Not only do the two styles overlap one another, but they are also very similar in style and inspiration.  Both styles embraced very simplistic styles and made their main focus was using local materials and artists to create various pieces of hardware and furniture.

     These styles of homes embrace the Craftsman philosophy completely.  Since these styles of homes have generated a very strong following it is quite easy to find a variety of different hardware options to help the homeowners maintain the Craftsman philosophy.  While some homeowners focus on the structure itself many others put their efforts into the furniture and hardware of the home to make sure it all fits in the Craftsman style.

     The choices people have for drawer hardware is extensive, and narrowing it down by architectural style doesn’t make that much of a dent in the options, especially with these styles.  The most common choices for drawer pulls are very simple ring designs.  The plusses for this option is that they can help convert any simple piece of furniture into more of a Craftsman style quite easily, and look great on any piece.

 

There are many different finishes available as well, and no one finish looks better than another because of the simplicity of it, and they blend with each other quite nicely.  This means you can have one room with primarily polished brass accents and another with oil rubbed bronze or chrome.  The different finishes can give very different impressions allowing an even further expression of a person’s personality.  All of the drawer pulls include the mounting hardware, making it a quick and easy upgrade to any room in your home.

Pueblo Style

     The Pueblo Style, also known as the Pueblo Revival Style is commonly found in the Southewestern area of the United States, and gets its name from the Pueblos as well as Spanish Missions in New Mexico.  This architectural style didn’t show up until the beginning of the 20^th century and was at its height during the 1920’s and 1930’s, though it is still extremely popular today.  The Pueblo style is especially iconic in the state of New Mexico.

     The Pueblo style looks very similar to the adobe construction that inspired it, though most times brick and concrete are used instead of the traditional clay.  This is primarily because it is easier, and often cheaper to use and can produce better results than with its traditional ingredients.  Rounded corners, and thick walls are used to create the look and feel of adobe, and walls are usually created in a stucco fashion and painted in earth tones to further the simulation.  These tones also help the buildings blend into the landscapes better, which is a feature in the Southwest. Key components of the Pueblo Revival are the use of earthy materials, enclosed courtyards and flat or sloping roofs with parapets.

     One of the first buildings created in the Pueblo Revival Style, and perhaps one of the most popular is at the University of New Mexico located in Albequerque, NM.  While only a handful of buildings were selected to be built in this style originally, over the years it has grown to encompass virtually the entire campus.

     Santa Fe, NM is also a city in which the Pueblo style dominates the architectural scene.  It started back in the 20’s and 30’s, and by 1957 a Historical Zoning Ordinance was put in place to mandate the use of the Pueblo and Territorial style on every new building in central Santa Fe.  It was so popular and accepted by everyone that the ordinance is still in effect today. One of the most famous (and earliest) Pueblo-style buildings in Santa Fe was the La Fonda Hotel.

     One of the advantages of a Pueblo-style building is protection from the elements, the thick clay/mud walls keeping out both heat and cold.

Fluted Glass Door Knobs

Art Deco Fluted Glass Knobs

Diamond-like sparkle when the light hits them right, these modern recreations of fluted glass knobs, bring style and elegance to your home. Fluted glass knobs experienced a boom in popularity during the 1920’s to the 1930’s. The style has its origins in the Victorian period, the Regency style, with solid brass construction and a polished brass finish is re-emerging as a popular choice.

Fluted Knobs

 

The Regency Single Dummy Fluted Door Knob set includes Rosette Screws, Crystal Knob and Rosette Plates. There are many styles to choose from including Privacy Locking sets, Passage sets and Double Dummy. There are also many finishes available to match your particular decor; brushed nickel, antique brass, polished chrome and oil rubbed bronze.

The Single Dummy is for one side of a door and is most often applied to a non-latching door, or bi-fold closet doors. While designed in an antique fashion, the Fluted Glass Door Knobs are sized for standard doors with a 2 1/8 bore hole. The Regency Crystal Single Dummy Glass Door Knob with any choice of finish makes an excellent addition to any room of the home.  Matching the finish to your furniture’s hardware such as dresser drawer pulls or even bathroom faucets, be it antique brass, brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze or polished chrome, can really pull the room together. Ceiling fans and even nightstand lamps can be matched to the finish and makes for a well designed décor that will impress your friends and family, but most importantly, you’ll be satisfied.

Other Styles of Crystal Knobs

Your love for the finer things, like quality Fluted Glass Door Knobs will show in your selection of antique styled hardware from LookInTheAttic.com. This hardware is perfect for matching Victorian period, 1920’s and 30’s or even eclectic styles of design for your home. Many online stores carry these styles of knobs. Try ArtDecoHardware.com or LookInTheAttic.com for a wide variety of styles and colors.

Peephole Predecessor – Antique Hardware

After much pondering and research, we have finally been able to uncover what this little beauty is….and if you can’t already tell from the title of this article, it is a peephole.  Well, it’s nothing like what we normally think of when we think of peepholes, but that’s because back when this piece was manufactured, they didn’t have many of the materials we use today.

This peephole has two parts, and was designed to have one part, the small round one, on the inside of your door, while the other piece would line up on the outside.  The outer piece also doubles as a door knocker, which fits snugly around the hole.  Peepholes like these were extremely popular in more upscale homes, as well as with those who were cautious of who would be coming in and out of their homes.

This piece does require some installation work outside of a couple of screws.  Most doors do not come with pre-cut holes in them for a peephole, so you will have to drill this yourself, or get someone you know to do it for you.  Even if you do currently have a peephole in your door, it’s probably not nearly as large as this one and will have to be enlarged.

This would be a truly wonderful piece to adorn any front door, and will be available in a variety of finishes so it will be sure to match whatever hardware you choose in your home.  This would also be absolutely adorable on a kid’s clubhouse to keep boys, girls, or even parents out.  It would also be a nice touch on any man cave and would be incredibly useful to keep any unwanted persons out during the big game, unless of course, they come bearing food.  Where else would you use this piece?

Not Your Average Piece of Junk

It’s been awhile since we’ve featured any door knockers. We don’t want everyone to think that we specialize in just drawer pulls and knobs. We actually pride ourselves in being able to supply our customers with a wide variety of antique and replica pieces from around the world. We want to give everyone the opportunity to capture the old world classic feel without always having to pay an exorbitant price.

While sometimes it seems like we feature more of one type of piece than another, most times it is because it is what we are really and truly excited about showing to you. True, there are certain items, like drawer pulls, that we do seem to feature more of, but that’s mainly because they are so abundant. These types of pieces account for a good third of our stock, but that’s also because they account for the same, if not more, in homes. Just think of how many dressers and cabinets you have in your house compared to doors, mailboxes, light fixtures, etc.

This piece is no exception. Yes, it’s another drawer pull and yes it needs a really good cleaning, but take a good look at it. You can tell that this piece was handmade by the simple craftsmanship that went in to it. There is a great amount of detail work on the back piece of it, which makes it a gorgeous accent to any piece of furniture. The assembly, where the handle itself attaches to the rest of the piece, is nothing more than a simple loop of metal to hold it in place. Unlike many modern pieces that may come in two, three, or four parts, this simple one piece construction sets it apart from its more modern counterparts.

We really like how the dark of the rust sets of the piece, and while we won’t use rust a finish, we will used oiled bronze as well as copper and probably cast iron as well. Let us know what you think?

More From The Pot O’ Gold

Here is another wonderful piece from our own pot of gold that we were fortunate enough to win in the most recent auction. This piece will be a little harder to market, since it’s more of a specialized piece, but I think the market is big enough that it won’t be too difficult to get a broad audience for it.

After all, flowers have been well loved for centuries, and often has special meaning for a variety of people. The design does limit the versatility of the piece slightly, but opens up several options that weren’t there before. A piece like this, perhaps in a different finish, or even an enamel one, would look absolutely darling in a nursery, or a little girl’s room. It is the type of piece that she probably wouldn’t grow out of, and would make a wonderful accent to the piece to hand down to her daughters or grand daughters one day.

This would also be a wonderful piece to brighten up an otherwise dull kitchen, bathroom, or even guest bedroom. Floral motifs are becoming increasingly popular, and are extremely easy to accessorize. The trouble with designs like this can be an abundance of items available, and this can lead to an overwhelming feeling, especially when you are trying to find just the right piece to make the room complete, or just the right design to truly match a floral bedspread or curtains.

This piece would also look great on a potting table, or in a gardening shed for anyone that has a love of gardening and flowers. Perhaps they have a space dedicated in their garage just for their hobby and need a sturdy yet whimsical design to compliment it. This flower drawer pull is the perfect accent to finish the space. This will be available in a variety of finishes as well, ensuring the most versatility for it.

Pot O’ Gold

We recently bid on another auction box, this one labeled as a pot of gold.  While I didn’t actually believe that it was full of gold, especially at the price that we got it for.  What we expected was a box full of gold-colored items, but we received much more than we bargained for.  Clearly, the people who create these posts knew what they were doing when they created the wording or the auction.  Our winning bid was nearly double the amount we had budgeted to spend, and we think it’s only because of the title of the auction.

Granted, we are more than pleased with our decision to continue bidding, now that we have discovered the contents of the box.  It is indeed filled with gold-colored items like we imagined, in the form of shiny brass door knobs and drawer pulls.  Some of them still need a really good polishing, but the majority of them were in near-new condition when we received them.  Don’t believe me? Just look at the picture!  I haven’t done a thing to this piece except take it’s picture so we could post it before stripping it down to make a mold of it!

This piece is going to be extremely easy to mold, as well as to sell.  It’s simple yet elegant design makes it ideal for any dresser, any style.  There are a few marks on the original piece, but they will not be there on the replicas.  We will be sure that this piece is absolutely flawless before creating the final mold.  That way it is ready for you to install on your nightstand, entertainment center, or even kitchen cabinets.  We would love to hear how you are going to use this piece!  Let us know; it may give us more ideas for future pieces.

Out of the Attic – 1830 Very Old Door Handles

This next piece has been sitting in the attic probably longer than any other piece.  We pull it out from time to time when we need to take our mind of things and clean, really clean, something, but it never seems to make it further than that.

These door handles were discovered in the attic of an old home and had long been forgotten.  At one time, the home belonged to my great grandfather’s brother – or so I had been told.  Unfortunately, the home was neglected for years, and fell into disrepair.  It ended up being sold to a couple who loved the home, and were very interested in  restoring the home to its former glory.

Most of the things in the attic and the basement ended up in my warehouse, and were the first members of what has now become fondly referred to as the attic.  We never really had any plans for these pieces, but I think now may be the time to really pay attention to some of them.  These door handles, even though you can’t really tell right now, are solid brass, and would be the perfect addition to any home.

They are original to my grandfather’s brother’s home, and were installed on the doors to the dining room.  There are many pictures in my grandfather’s photo albums from many different holiday dinners.  His brother’s home was the largest in the family, and by default was used for all of the family gatherings.  The new owners of the home have already expressed interest in viewing some of these pictures so that they can get a better idea of how the home used to look.

We have already promised them the first set once we really clean these up so that we can replicate them.  It will probably take us the better part of two weeks to completely clean off all of the dirt and grime that has built up, but I know that all the hard work and effort will really pay off to bring out the beauty of these door handles.