Porcelain Door Knobs

Enhancing Your Home's Appearance With Porcelain Door Knobs And Other Vintage Hardware

Porcelain door knobs and other similar vintage hardware are both functional hardware and beautiful accent pieces for your home.  Adding them to your interior decor is an inexpensive way to freshen things up or add some vintage appeal to your home to match your period furniture.  You can find antique door knobs and other types from dealers who specialize in architectural antiques, but it may be easier to go with some of the beautiful reproductions online. 

These types of knobs may also be known as ceramic door knobs.  The most common color they are available in is white, but there are also versions that have hand painted designs on them and brown swirl patterns that were very popular around the turn of the century.  Almond, ivory and black are other colors that are less widely available but you can find them if you try.

The hand painted versions usually have multicolored floral designs on them or other designs that emulate nature such as birds or animals.  Some of them also have geometric designs or stylized symbols such as the fleur de lis.  If you look carefully you should be able to find a design that suits your decor no matter what style it is.

Some actual antique door knobs have decals on them rather than hand painting.  The look is similar but the decals are less durable and will not hold up well over time. 

Manufacturers such as Emtek and Delamain make some beautiful reproduction pieces that look exactly like true vintage hardware.  The main advantages to going with new versions is that with true antiques the right number of pieces may not be readily available, and generally new versions will be easier to install and work better with existing hardware.

Other examples of decorative vintage hardware include glass door knobs which resemble crystal and brass handles such as levers.  Like door knobs made of porcelain, these come in truly antique versions and modern reproductions that simulate them but work better with modern hardware. 

To choose porcelain door knobs that go well with your own decor, look at decorating magazines that feature period homes, websites with decorating details, or even manufacturer websites, which often have beautiful pictures that will inspire you to make some changes in your own home.  Successful home decorating is the result of paying careful attention to details, and a porcelain door knob is one of the most interesting architectural details out there.