Doors do more than just serve architectural needs. For centuries, they have been useful providers of privacy, security, and protection against the elements. From ancient Egypt to modern times, the door and its furniture have progressed in tandem with the advancement and progress of society and innovation. The simple humble door handle has become an indispensable adjunct to houses and buildings worldwide, but its long history which stretches over thousands of years is absolutely thrilling.
Ancient and Medieval Doors: From Wooden Slabs to Brilliant Locks
Simple yet effective, these were the original doors dating as far back as 3000 BC from Ancient Egypt, where art showed wooden slabs and cloth-covered hangings. The ancient Egyptians even invented the first door lock and could build the first pin tumbler lock which is still in use now and was entirely made of wood.
In other old civilizations, for example, Greece and Rome, doors used advanced hinges, and some have been unearthed by archaeologists. The Roman bronze hinges on display at the British Museum closely replicate modern hinges in design. These early civilizations paved the way for more serviceable, useful, and secure door systems.
Middle Ages houses (500-1500 AD) were composed of many large, open rooms with little or no need for interior doors. However, for safety, homes would barricade the external doors with heavy oak beams, while locks were considered a luxury only the rich could afford. Now, by the latter half of the 1500s, during which social classifications grew, and the rich began constructing houses with rooms, the wooden door and strap hinges were common. The rest of the people relied on simple means by using textile hangings or wooden partitions.
The Industrial Revolution and Door Furniture
The Industrial Revolution of 1760-1840 ushered in a new age for door furniture, but mass production no longer made door knobs and handles an attribute of the rich class. With prices lower, larger numbers of homeowners could now install such practical features. Osborn Dorsey, a pioneering African American inventor, received the first patent for the doorknob and an internal latching mechanism in 1878, leading the world into significant changes with door design and security features. The development of the modern lever tumbler lock is credited to British locksmiths Robert Barron, Joseph Bramah, and Jeremiah Chubb.
From Use to Ornament: Doors as a Design Statement
Also, during the Industrial Revolution, it was the era when creativity associated with artistic expression in door furniture was made possible. Where one’s door knobs and handles were no longer just put there to fulfill a function but to give one’s home a little flair. Art Deco, Minimalism, and revivals like the Tudor and Georgian periods saw door handles and knob designs that catered to every taste.
Vintage Style for Modern Houses
Handles4u promises to ensure that your entire Victorian-style black door handles and locks fit seamlessly in your modern home, which has a touch of vintage feel. Our Beehive Door Knobs original design is by far the most popular for Georgian and Victorian house designs. In reality, it is ideal for period properties or those wanting an old charmingly timeless appeal.
Lever handles, which were first launched in the early years of the 1900s but their initial origins are well-rooted and go as far back as the Tudor period, are also available. They do well for houses with young children or elderly home occupants. They work with an integrated lock profile on exterior doors, such as the 5-lever or Euro cylinder locks. Black and pewter designs carry on the look from the olden days but bring in all the convenience of modern times.
Explore Timeless Designs
At Handles4u, we attempt to combine craft with historical inspiration in producing a whole range of door knobs and handles that can add style as well as security to your home. Our products are designed to enrich any space, from restoring the genuine touches of period property to that little vintage elegance that makes your home so warm and inviting with a Georgian Beehive door knob or one of our more contemporary lever handles.
