British Ironmongery supplies antique brass door furniture handcrafted here in the UK — door handles, door knobs, letterplates, door knockers, rim locks, window furniture and more, all hand-finished in antique brass patina.
Antique brass is a deliberately aged living finish, designed so that with normal handling, the patina will develop over time and parts of the finish will reveal the metal below, creating a stunning aged effect. It's the finish most closely associated with genuine period ironmongery, which is why it's the first choice for restoration projects, listed buildings, and any property where new hardware needs to look like it belongs.
Our antique brass door handles are available in a range of backplates and roses, so you can match the handle style to the age and character of your doors. For doors with multipoint locking mechanisms, our door handles for multipoint locks are also available in the same antique brass finish, so front doors with modern security hardware don't need to compromise on a period-accurate look.
For internal doors, our antique brass door knobs are available on plate, round rose, covered rose and square rose fittings. Because the ageing is applied by hand rather than sprayed or dipped, the depth of tone sits naturally in the detail of each knob rather than as a flat, uniform coating.
Our letterplates in antique brass are made to match the rest of the range, so a front door can be fitted with handle, knocker and letterplate in a single consistent finish rather than three items bought separately in three different shades of brass.
An antique brass door knocker is usually the first piece of hardware a visitor sees and touches, and it's often bought separately from the rest of a door's furniture — which is how mismatched finishes happen. Our range of door knockers are finished to the same antique brass standard as our handles and letterplates, so it can be specified to match rather than approximated.
Our rim locks are available in antique brass for period front and internal doors that use a traditional surface-mounted rim lock rather than a mortice lock, keeping the visible lock casing consistent with the rest of the door's antique brass furniture.
Our antique brass window furniture covers both sash and casement styles. For sash windows, browse our sash window furniture range, including fasteners and lifts finished to match your door hardware. For casement windows, our casement window furniture range covers fasteners and stays in the same antique brass finish, so window and door ironmongery can be specified together throughout a property.
Our antique brass is solid brass that has been deliberately aged so the finish reads as older than a bright, polished piece. The ageing is worked into the recesses and detailing of the casting, while the raised surfaces stay lighter, which is what gives genuine antique brass its depth compared with a flat, single-tone imitation. The brass will continue to age with handling and time, deepening further and giving a natuarally aged appearance.
This is different from a plated or coated finish over a base metal, which are unnatuarally uniform in appearance and can wear or chip with use.
Our antique brass door furniture is manufactured and hand-finished here in the UK, using traditional methods rather than mass production. As with the rest of our range, pieces are made to order — please get in touch for current lead times on antique brass items.
What is antique brass? Antique brass is solid brass which has been deliberately darkened to give it an aged patina. It replicates the look of genuine period brass ironmongery that has oxidised and been worn over many years of use.
Is antique brass the same as lacquered or polished brass? No. Polished brass is a bright, even finish, often protected with a lacquer coating to slow tarnishing. If unlacquered, both satin brass and polished brass will oxidise and take on a patina. Antique brass is deliberately aged so you don't have to wait for years for the brass to take on this patina. Our antique brass is a "living" finish, so will also continue to develop its naturally over time.
Will antique brass door furniture continue to age after I buy it? Yes. Our antique brass will keep ageing naturally with handling, weather and time, gradually deepening the contrast between the lighter, handled areas and the darker areas, which are handled less frequently. If you would prefer for your antique brass to not alter, then please contact us and we can arrange to have a lacquer applied.
Can I match antique brass across handles, knockers, letterplates and window furniture? Yes — our door handles, door knobs, letterplates, door knockers, rim locks, and sash and casement window furniture are all available in the same antique brass finish, so a whole property can be specified consistently.
Is antique brass door furniture suitable for listed or period properties? Yes. Antique brass is one of the finishes most closely associated with original period ironmongery, which makes it a common choice for restoration work and listed buildings where new hardware needs to match the age and character of the property.
Browse the full range of British made antique brass door handles, door knobs, letterplates, door knockers, rim locks and window furniture, or get in touch if you'd like help specifying a matching finish across a whole property.
To view some of our antique brass range in our Gallery, please click here.
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