Hand Forged English Ironmongery

A door knob can often seem like a mere detail, but getting it right in such a way that it compliments both the door and the character of its surroundings can give an immediate visual and tactile satisfaction – the knob is our contact with the door, the part we touch, and a hand forged door knob is not only functional and durable, but also puts us in contact with the history and traditions of a time when these things mattered.

The classic door knobs available from English Blacksmith put you right in touch with this craftsmanship. Each door knob is hand forged using traditional methods according to authentic designs, and will enhance the character especially of older buildings.

Over time, such a door knob becomes something comfortably familiar, and the knobs recommended for indoor use come with a Beeswax coating that wears into a pleasing patina, and allows the textures and colours of the forging process to show through.

For outdoor use it is recommended that Powder Coated items are used, the Powder Coating giving an extremely hardwearing finish that will withstand the elements.

Of course, it is possible instead to use Beeswax coated door knobs outside, and wax can be applied occasionally to help protect the knob, but natural aging, including corrosion, will occur over time. If you prefer this not to happen choose a Powder Coated knob.

The door knobs from English Blacksmith are supplied as a set, which includes a pair of knobs, suitable for use as either mortice or rim knobs, and has a threaded spindle which allows adjustment for different door thicknesses. They are unsprung and thus require an additional latch or lock to be fitted – such as, for example, the high quality stainless steel Sash Dead Lock available from English Blacksmith, and which is compatible with all their hand forged knobs.

Completing your door fittings with a hand forged door knob will be a pleasing and lasting addition to the character of your property. And as you reach out to open the door, you will be touching once again that heritage of unpretentious quality and style.

Hand-forged ironmongery, like everything else, is subject to changing fashions.

In the seventeenth century, the “Baroque” style of architecture – associated with such famous names as Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor – had been tremendously popular. It was colourful, theatrical and over-the-top.

King George I, who came to the throne in 1714, absolutely detested it. Throughout the eighteenth century, a more a restrained style, which came to be called “Georgian” took over.

It was fashionable for rich young men to go on the Grand Tour – a sort of eighteenth century gap year during which they would visit the great cities of Europe. Some of them came back impressed with the ancient Greek and Roman buildings they had seen, and these “classical” styles started to influence Georgian buildings.

More and more people were starting to move to the towns: so builders had to fit large numbers of houses into relatively small spaces. So the most typical Georgian building is a terrace of town houses: three or four stories high, and built in a similar style, so that whole streets had a consistent feel.

Baroque buildings had been flamboyant and dramatic; but Georgian houses were restrained understated and elegant. The Georgians wanted buildings which were perfectly proportioned; balanced; symmetrical and above all, regular.

The baroque period had been a golden age of wrought iron. But the industrial revolution meant that craftsmen were beginning to see the possibilities of cast iron. Wrought iron relies on the skills of individual craftsmen and artists; but cast iron – made by pouring molten metal into moulds – can be mass-produced. It’s also very much stronger.

This approach suited the Georgian age. A row of identical Georgian town-houses was positively complemented b a cast iron railing in which the same shape or pattern was repeated over and over again.

This didn’t mean that Georgian cast iron was dull and functional. Decorative flourishes – fleur de lys, leaves, a Greek-style urn, or perhaps a pineapple – were worked into the most humble buildings. Because the work was mass-produced even relatively poor people could have interesting cast-iron decorations on their homes.

Georgian houses had many uses for cast iron. They required grids and grills to cover their coal cellars and basements. There was often an open gap between the street and the basement, so safety railings were needed. The front door tended to be up a flight of steps from the pavement, requiring yet more railings and gates.

It became very fashionable for houses to have cast iron balconies, with elaborate ornamental brackets, on their first floors. The architect Robert Adam is famous for working anthemion decorations — a kind of Greek floral pattern — into his balconies: these were copied and imitated throughout the period.

Adam also created a fad for putting “fan-lights” into houses porches. These were semi-circular windows with elaborate cast iron frames.

The Georgian Style of cast-iron is reckoned to have lasted through the reigns of George I, George II, mad George III and his son George IV, the prince regent.

But just as the Georgians had found baroque vulgar; so the Victorians found Georgian ironwork dull and repetitive; and the style began to die out.

But if you crave the everyday beauty of Georgian-style cast iron – whether to restore a Georgian property or to add a touch of panache to your modern home — the craftsmen at English Blacksmith can provide hand forged ironmongery that will help you recreate the elegance of that bygone age.

A door knob can often seem like a mere detail, but getting it right in such a way that it compliments both the door and the character of its surroundings can give an immediate visual and tactile satisfaction – the knob is our contact with the door, the part we touch, and a hand forged door knob is not only functional and durable, but also puts us in contact with the history and traditions of a time when these things mattered.

The classic door knobs available from English Blacksmith put you right in touch with this craftsmanship. Each door knob is hand forged using traditional methods according to authentic designs, and will enhance the character especially of older buildings.

Over time, such a door knob becomes something comfortably familiar, and the knobs recommended for indoor use come with a Beeswax coating that wears into a pleasing patina, and allows the textures and colours of the forging process to show through.

For outdoor use it is recommended that Powder Coated items are used, the Powder Coating giving an extremely hard-wearing finish that will withstand the elements.

Of course, it is possible instead to use Beeswax coated door knobs outside, and wax can be applied occasionally to help protect the knob, but natural aging, including corrosion, will occur over time. If you prefer this not to happen choose a Powder Coated knob.

The door knobs from English Blacksmith are supplied as a set, which includes a pair of knobs with back plates, suitable for use as either mortice or rim knobs, and a threaded spindle which allows adjustment for different door thicknesses. They are unsprung and thus require an additional latch or lock to be fitted – such as, for example, the high quality stainless steel Sash Dead Lock available from English Blacksmith, and which is compatible with all their hand forged knobs.

Completing your door fittings with a hand forged door knob will be a pleasing and lasting addition to the character of your property. And as you reach out to open the door, you will be touching once again that heritage of unpretentious quality and style.

Paint doesn’t have to be applied in liquid form. In fact, for ironmongery exposed to the elements there is a better way – powder coating. This process involves spraying electrostatically-charged, dry, powdered paint at the target. The powder adheres evenly to all surfaces – even those hidden from the gun. The item is then fired to produce a hard finish.

The Advantages

Dry, powdered paint can be applied in a thicker layer than liquid paint without dripping or sagging. There is also more consistency in the thickness of the layers on vertical and horizontal surfaces. The result is a coating that is hard, tough, abrasion-resistant, and not prone to cracking, chipping or peeling.

Powder coating is also cleaner and more efficient that liquid spraying. The process produces less hazardous waste and less wasted paint too – 95% of it ends up on the target, as paint that fails to stick can be re-used.

The Products

English Blacksmith produce a variety of powder-coated, external ironmongery items such as knobs and knockers, door handles bolts and keeps, door furniture and hinges. All of these pieces are hand-forged in the finest English tradition.

Powder coating is the answer for a hardwearing and attractive finish.

We can say that the Industrial Revolution changed the way we lived for the better, however some traditional customs never died out. Forging as it was in the olden days is a dying art that English Blacksmith is continuing as a way of preserving our heritage. What sets English Blacksmith apart, is the use of British hand forged ironmongery traditional designs and methods. The designs come from the anvil to your door or in this case your cabinet furniture.

Dating back over three centuries, the Butterfly hinge opposite, also known as the Dovetail hinge is a stylish design in great demand due to its timeless appearance. Depending on the project, it is also available as the half Butterfly hinge (pictured below) and both designs come in the range of 2” and 3” sizes. The 3” Butterfly hinge is ideally suited for period furniture such as the cabinet below. Butterfly hinges are also ideal for smaller period doors, cupboards, delicate boxes and chests.

It can be a bit daunting trying to find handcrafted products suitable and desirable for your home, however English Blacksmith is able to satisfy even the most discerning customer when it comes to the restoration or manufacture of period furniture fittings, adding an authenticity and timeless style.

English Blacksmith prides itself on the quality of their products, offering a 10 year guarantee and free delivery on orders over £50. The Butterfly hinge is drawn and carefully hand forged in the traditional fashion, with a beeswax finish to ensure a long lasting patina. This classic design gives any period piece a visual appeal that evokes memories of a bygone era.

This ergonomically formed octagonal door knob set has been skilfully crafted to fit any contemporary door fittings. The pack contains two 2 1/4” x 2 12” knobs and rose-headed nails (2 5/8”) and is also available with a powder-coated finish. English Blacksmith prides itself on producing high quality, superior door knobs and door accessories at unbeatable prices - if you can find the same product for less, they will squash the price. Given the fact that they are made by hand, using traditional English ironmongery techniques this service is incredible.

This iron-cast door knob set is one of the most popular products supplied by English Blacksmith, and that is no surprise, as the skill needed to produce such complex, fine pieces of iron sculpting is immense. This iron door knob comes to you straight from the anvil and makes a door a door - for, after all, without an iron knob it’s just a piece of wood. Obtaining your octagonal door knob set couldn’t be easier, for along with the product itself, buyers receive a free ten year guarantee and quick and friendly home delivery for any product, with no cost for orders over £50.

This is a truly inspiring product, and testament to an English tradition that is sadly in decline on the wider market, but still very much alive at English Blacksmith. The quintessential ‘Smithy’ is rarely seen these days, due to industrialisation and the mass production techniques that are generally used all over the world. Especially in Europe, there are more and more Artist-Blacksmiths appearing, who produce fine-art using traditional blacksmithing methods, rather than the utilitarian products or weaponry hand-forged by the Blacksmiths of old. It is a wonderful fact that, in some respects, English Blacksmith combines aspects of both art and product blacksmithing, producing practical products that are a joy to look and at the same time completely functional. This octagonal door knob set is a wonderful example of this fine mix of present-day art and glorious tradition and is a perfect example of the prime products that English Blacksmith produce.

Thanks for stopping by.

We plan to host a selection of informative articles relating to hand forged ironmongery here. If you have anything you’d like us to cover please contact us via the contact page on the website.

Best Wishes,

Joanne
Operation Manager.