Hi Folks

I have a set of Metal Art Deco/Arts & Craft door handles and would like to know some more information about them from any member.

They are 31cm long and finished in a bronze lustre and have a dateline of 1930 as I have the bill of sale.

Are they a follow on from the Arts & Craft style or pure Art Deco?

Any help in this matter would be appreciated.

Comperking

Even though the picture is dark, they look like pure A & C. The founders of the movement were influenced by Medieval decorative arts--hence the heavy look to some of the A & C light fixtures, cabinet knobs, hinges, door handles and the ornate flowing patterns of rugs designed by William Morris (who also designed wallpaper) and Charles Vorsey.

Take a look at early Gustave Stickley furniture before Harvey Ellis joined him. For example, the metalwork on pieces like his buffets and china cabinets celebrate Stickley's love of hand hammered metal. He despised metalware that was made by machine. Your door handle set has the look of being hand hammered, and made by hand. It also has a wonderful original finish with a gorgeious patina. (Don't clean it.) Sadly, Stickley declared bankruptcy in 1915 and stopped publishing his Craftmans magazine in 1916.

But, what does that date mean to you for your 1930 bill of sale?

Here is what was happening at that time that affected the demise of the A & C movement. World War I adversely affected American and European interest in furniture and decorative arts. And the 1929 collaspe of the stock market that started the Great Depression sounded the "death nell" for the public's interest and ability to buy A & C furniture, bungalows, metal work, pottery, etc.

Your date is at the tail end of all of this national and global tragedy. 1930 is often considered the end of the A & C movement. But, its style and characteristics were carried on in architicural styles such as Tudor and the long lived Four-square houses.

Can you tell us more about the bill of sale? The exact date would be nice and information about where it was purchased would be helpful. There are people on this forum who are experts in A & C metalwork and they might be able to figure out who made it.

Bev.

Hi Bev

The reciept just states a set of sixteen door handles and one letter box cover with an address in London.

No shop or maker as I have tried to find the address. May have been a dealer?

The reciept show the date as 14th Sept 1930 and the price of £2 14 shillings per set and £3 for the letterbox. Thats pe-decimal money (1972)

I thought they may have come from "Liberty" in London as they normally dealt in Renne Mackintosh etc.

Could well be your description is correct.

Any idea of how much they would sell for?

Best regards

Comperking

Any indication of a city in the address? What makes you think that it is Liberty? Why don't you give us the address? Someone from the forum might know it.

You have people here in the forum who collect all kinds of reference material on A & C. There should be somebody with books on English A & C. My knowledge is mostly American.

Have you googled the address with the date yet?

You might come up with something.

I have no idea on price. You have to find that special person who needs to buy that for the front door of their A & C house.

I'll have to think about how you would market it. I don't know about E-bay--you are looking for a specific type of buyer who may not be looking on E-bay that week for a door handle. It could sell for next to nothing if the right person doesn't find it. You might be better off in an A & C auction. But I don't know much about consigning with any of the auction houses.

Good luck.

Bev.

Hi Bev

Many thanks for your help on the door handles.

Yes I have done a Goggle search and unfortunately the address is only a house. Again leads me to think it may have been a private dealer as they may have been a few years old by then when my uncle bought them in 1930.

I originally thought they may have come from Liberty of London and may have had a stamp on the reverse to show it, these don’t!

I agree with you they are only worth what someone is prepared to pay for them to go in their A&C house. Nevertheless thanks for the information you’ve supplied. I probably try to sell them of some sites in the UK and keep my eyes open for any specialist A&C auction and try there.

Best regards

Comperking