Antique furniture hardware is used mainly in restoration and repair of antique furniture. Antique furniture through the years often suffers from some amount of damage.

The term “hardware” is used to connote different parts of furniture like brass knobs and handles. Large suppliers of furniture parts categorize their stocks based on region and period. This way, looking for required parts becomes easier.

Brass knobs

Brass knobs come in a variety of different colors and sizes. Often they have been crafted with intricate detail and are made with brass and copper. Brass is an alloy. The “shininess” is supported by the alloy metal which makes the parts stronger. Often the first region of a knob to break is the locking part.

When this happens, you have to replace the knob. However, you cannot simply put in just any knob. You have to find the right antique furniture hardware for your repair job. If you put modern brass knobs in, the furniture will look silly.

If your furniture will look silly with the wrong hardware, then the defect will definitely stand out and attract attention. Most antique brass knobs are spherical, resembling flowers. Most of these are handmade and hard to find beyond the borders of the Internet.

Some brass knobs are made with a bit of ivory as well. These larger knobs resemble luxury doorknobs but were actually made for cabinets and drawers. Most brass knobs are screwed on while some are locked from the inside.

Other antique hardware

Other antique furniture hardware being sold includes the following:

•    Eyehooks
•    Brass posts
•    Washers
•    Iron bails
•    Ring pulls
•    Brass bails

Eyehooks are used to repair vintage metal hook locks. Brass posts are used to repair broken cabinets. Washers on the other hand are used to re-attach broken handles and knobs.

Most washers look like they have been made with copper. Bails on the other hand, are mostly used for drawers. Since iron bails and brass bails are generally uniform, most antique bails can be used for any type of furniture.

Another type of antique furniture hardware is ring pulls. Ring pulls have a function similar to bails and knobs. They are attached to smaller and lighter drawers. They are also used for small jewelry boxes.

One tip when buying hardware for your antiques is to find out what time period your furniture came from. That way, the search for parts becomes easier. The merchant will only have to locate his or her collection from a particular time period. GP