History of Decorative Hardware in the U.S. As man became more civilized and began to build more complex structures in which to live, he began to need certain accoutrements to aid with these structures. As man began to put doors on his structures, he found it unwieldy to pick up the door and move it every time. So, he invented the door hinge. With the advent of windows came the need for shutters and shutters too worked better with hinges. Much of this early hardware was rudimentary and primitive, none the less, it worked. The first doorknobs probably consisted of a piece of rope attacked to the door to pull it open and closed.

As civilization advanced, so did their structures. The Civil War era added stairs and thus the need for railings and banisters. The post-civil war era saw many advancements in inventions to make people's lives more convenient, such as the shower, and toilet. The invention of running water led to the need for sinks and thus the need for faucets. As civilization became more advanced, it needed more and more hardware to make it work.

Early hardware was utilitarian, it was meant to serve a purpose. The post-civil war era brought a boom in the areas of art and literature. People expressed themselves in complex ways using a variety of mediums. Popular style began to reflect societal attitudes and norms. A person's house became a reflection of the person. It is not surprising that even the most everyday item became a work of art, from the handle to flush the toilet to drawer knobs to hinges and faceplates.

Many people make it their life passion to buy and restore old houses. In this restoration they may or may not have the original hardware that goes with the house. A restoration is not complete unless it is accurate to the last detail. This has created a need...

It is a growing and lucrative market, which serves the needs of the historical restoration industry. The following research will give and overview of the various periods in modern architecture and the prevalent characteristics that influenced the decorative hardware of the period. In this way we can get a small glimpse into life at that time.
Early American Period

The Early American Period refers to roughly the years 1607 to 1685. It included the Civil War era and the period immediately following the revolution known as the "restoration period." The early American Period preceded the industrial revolution. Mass Manufacture had not come into the scene and many of the everyday items that people needed were made by individual craftsmen. In the very early part of this period, the village blacksmith played an important part in the community. The black smith made virtually every item that the early people on the frontier needed, including all hardware and accessories for the house. During this time period, a greater emphasis was placed on function over style.

As many of the early Americans had recently arrived from England, and it is not surprising that some of the prevalent styles there had an influence on American style. Some of the materials were imported from England and this undoubtedly had an influence on style. One of the great hardware innovations during this time was the mortise lock.1 The first American Hardware factories were started during this time. Early American Hardware is typically simple in style, without ornamentation, functional and heavy in both appearance and weight.2

Victorian Period

The Victorian Period refers to the time directly after the Civil War…