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Antique Hardware Price Guide: A Comprehensive Collector's Price Guide and Identification Guide to Vintage Doorknobs, Door Bells, Mail Slots, Hinges, Door Pulls, Shutter Hardware and Lockets
A restoration guide to vintage American hardware from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries encompasses photographs and current values for antique doorknobs, door pulls, lock sets, mail slots, door bells, hinges, shutter hardware, and more. Original.
Paperback
First published March 1, 1999
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January 31, 2016
I had no idea! These days most doorknobs are cheap and utilitarian. Even in fancy houses. However, according to the history chapter in this wonderful book, from a period between the end of the Civil War to the start of WWI, America's home hardware industry exploded with creativity.
Door knob design was seen as a place to show off one's American-flavored independence and unique individuality. Public schools had their own custom, decorative door knobs. Towns had them. Retail stores front doors had branded ones. Plus, yes, people's homes had all sorts of different decorative door knobs.
Published in 1999, pretty much at the moment the Internet was changing pricing and access for collectors of all types of things, this book's original purpose was outdated nearly instantly. But that doesn't mean it's not a valuable book. By my estimate, close to 1,000 different vintage door knobs are photographed, a far greater number than what you could find by searching the Internet. (On a good day, you'll find maybe a few dozen types.)
Plus, although the prices are outdated, this book provides notes on how rare each doorknob is, which is very helpful for would be collectors and estimates.
I'm a decorating fiend. I just spent a wad making sure the brass locks on my windows were cuter. And yet, beyond fussing about the color of my front door knob, it never occurred to me that I should consider my interior knobs. Now, of course, I will. I'm thinking something chinoiserie, of which this book includes many delicious examples.
Oh goodie!
Recommended for decorators, designers and home owners.
Door knob design was seen as a place to show off one's American-flavored independence and unique individuality. Public schools had their own custom, decorative door knobs. Towns had them. Retail stores front doors had branded ones. Plus, yes, people's homes had all sorts of different decorative door knobs.
Published in 1999, pretty much at the moment the Internet was changing pricing and access for collectors of all types of things, this book's original purpose was outdated nearly instantly. But that doesn't mean it's not a valuable book. By my estimate, close to 1,000 different vintage door knobs are photographed, a far greater number than what you could find by searching the Internet. (On a good day, you'll find maybe a few dozen types.)
Plus, although the prices are outdated, this book provides notes on how rare each doorknob is, which is very helpful for would be collectors and estimates.
I'm a decorating fiend. I just spent a wad making sure the brass locks on my windows were cuter. And yet, beyond fussing about the color of my front door knob, it never occurred to me that I should consider my interior knobs. Now, of course, I will. I'm thinking something chinoiserie, of which this book includes many delicious examples.
Oh goodie!
Recommended for decorators, designers and home owners.
Displaying 1 of 1 review