A door handle is the fitting used to open and close a door, operating a latch or lock. Antique and period door handles take many forms, including round knobs, lever handles, pull handles, ring handles and the thumb latches found on cottage plank doors, and they are made in brass, bronze, iron, porcelain, glass, horn, wood and other materials.
In Britain, wrought iron latches and ring handles were standard in early houses, while the Georgian period introduced brass rim locks with small oval or round knobs. The Victorians produced an enormous range of door furniture, including ceramic knobs from Staffordshire potteries, cut or moulded glass knobs, ebony and cast brass handles, often matched with finger plates and escutcheons. Arts and Crafts designers favoured hand-forged iron and hammered copper, and the twentieth century brought Art Deco lever handles and chrome or bakelite designs. Architectural salvage dealers supply original handles to restore period properties, and buyers should check that spindles, roses and backplates are compatible with existing locks. Original door furniture, carefully cleaned rather than over-polished, contributes significantly to the authenticity of a historic interior.
