If you happen to be unfortunate enough to live in a home without architectural details but really wish you had some, you might already be familiar with many of the ways in which you can yourself add a little architectural interest. Let us bring your attention to a detail you may have never thought of before: escutcheons!
You know, those plates behind a door knob on a door that add a little oomph to the door presentation? A serious detail during Downton Abbey-era, but also super hot during the Mid-Century Modern era, as well.
Though it seems a bit small or trivial, it also seems like the kind of rich detail that leads to an incredibly interesting, unique home. And some can help protect your door from damage and wear. Here are just a few to get you started on your own escutcheon search:
1) Mid-Century Narrow Star Escutcheon
2) Mid-Century Wide Square Escutcheon
3) Mid-Century Round Escutcheon
4) Eastlake Door Escutcheons -- Victorian Door Plates
5) Early 1900s Antique Escutcheon Back Plates
6) Vintage Escutcheons
7) Art Deco Keyhole Back Plate
What do you guys think about door knob plates? Does your home have any, modern or vintage-looking? Do you think your place might enjoy an escutcheon addition? Let us know!
(Top image: From the Crestview Doors' Flickr stream, full of great MCM escutcheon inspiration; the rest credited in the links)
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Were these always a "thing"? I just don't feel like any of these would fit in with the look of my little 1830's house. But I do like them.
Love them!!!! I have always wanted some escutcheons for my inside and outside doors!! When we buy our own home..these are a must to install!
The only door I'd want to use one of these on would by my front door, and none of these appear knob + deadbolt friendly. Interior doors might be more practical, could be fun!
The antique pieces are so beautiful, I'd love to get some someday!
Jess, many of the houses in my neighborhood (1830-1890s, Boston) have ones similar to the rectangular plate, often with the original knob in them. People usually have stopped using the skeleton key and have installed a deadbolt above it. I don't really know of a reason to have a locking knob. This seems to be a thing in new construction in the U.S., but not in traditional homes in the U.S. or at all in other countries where I've lived. Most places seem to just have a plain knob or push-button handle for opening and closing the door, and then some sort of bolt for locking it. The locking knobs are really easy to force open or jimmy open anyway.
I literally JUST replaced all the hardware throughout my home, opting for these with decorative escutcheons for the interior doors:
http://tiny.cc/l5rwi
and with similar hardware with the same escutcheons for the exterior doors to replace the standard home builder special polished brass knobs.
Ooooo, Door love.
You missed the best one -- the new Samba from Rejuvenation. Go big or go home: http://retrorenovation.com/2012/02/10/breaking-news-new-midcentury-modern-samba-exterior-door-hardware-from-rejuvenation/
we installed the rejuvenation escutcheon (ariel) on our door (blog post with pix here).
one very important thing to note about the rejuvenation plates is that they do not fit all types of schlage knobs -- only the "A" series which is a much more expensive and robust knob (about $100 online) -- they do not fit the commonly available F-series from your local big-box or other non-schlage knobs. the rejuvenation price for the kit is actually pretty competitive, so don'y feel like a rube for ordering it all from them -- plus, it rewards the folks who actually made the effort (i.e.: rather than buying the plate from rejuvenation and the other bits at big-orange. however, the joint linked below is a good one should you need parts).
these are not (one hand) "egress" sets, so they would not be code in some applications -- perhaps that's what jess was talking about when she mentioned "knob/deadbolt" as the units appear as one lock.
per the other mention about keyed knobs and deadbolts. the keyed knob on the A-series handle is quite robust. combined with a grade-2 deadbolt and your door is quite secure. i've installed both with 5in backsets (really the only way to go for it to look right) and they work wonderfully.
thanks to rejuvenation for bringing these back. previously, there were few choices.