What is a centre door knob for?

It sits in the middle of a front door panel and acts as a pull. The door was pulled shut against it rather than opened by turning it. It is the largest single strand in this category, appearing in eight titles and across Georgian, Regency, Victorian and Edwardian listings.

Is brass or bronze more common?

Brass, by a wide margin. It is named in 22 of the 28 titles, and bronze is the only other metal that recurs. The bronze pieces tend to be the knockers, a centre knob and the Chinese door plates. They cluster in the upper half of the range.

How are these pieces dated?

Almost always by period label. Victorian covers 17 of the 28 listings, with 19th Century and Georgian behind it and single examples of Regency, Edwardian and the 1940s. Only two listings carry a clean year. One title reads "19th century style", which describes the pattern rather than the date.

What knocker patterns turn up?

The lion mask is the conventional one. Beyond it, the listings carry a ram's head, a laurel wreath, a Continental bronze example and a doctor's knocker. The Maltese dolphin, a stylised dolphin form associated with Malta, appears twice.

Are knobs sold singly or in pairs?

Both. Centre door knobs are single by nature, since only one was fitted to a front door. Rim and mortice knobs came in pairs for a lock, and five titles specify a pair or two pairs, including brass, brass and wood, beehive and oval Arts and Crafts examples.

Do bolts and chains appear in this category?

Rarely. A night door chain, which lets a door open a few inches only, appears once. A Gothic bolt appears once. The category is otherwise knobs, knockers and bell pulls, with around eight pieces coming to market on Sellingantiques in a year across seven dealers.

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Antique Door Hardware

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Loose fittings taken off doors and sold on their own or in matched pairs: knobs, knockers, bell pulls and the odd bolt or chain, the working furniture of a front door.