Choosing and Installing The Right Hardware For Antique Reproductions

There are many reasons to fall in love with antique reproductions, from their affordable prices to their solid, handmade construction and stunning mahogany wood grain and shades. Yet, after years of owning your Pavilion glass coffee table or your Chippendale Lowboy—you might find the hardware in your antique reproductions needs replacing.

What can you do?

If you need assistance choosing the proper hardware for your antique reproductions and how to replace the old ones, we are here to help.

What is Antique or Antique Reproduction Hardware?

Many pieces of furniture utilize functional hardware. Hardware found on antiques and antique reproductions can include hinges, castors, knobs, locks, handles, hooks, cabinetry pulls, doorknobs with backplates, and door knockers.

Purchasing genuine antique hardware can be an excellent investment, allowing you to own a piece of history in a style or era you love. However, as many collectors know, finding genuine antique items can take quite a long time and is generally not budget-friendly. Luckily, many well-established online and in-person businesses specialize in antique reproduction hardware with exquisite replicas that can suit any of your furniture reproductions.

What Are the Most Common Types of Antique and Antique Reproduction Hardware?

A few of the common types of hardware found on antiques and reproductions are:

• Bail Pulls. One of the most common features is a bail or handle attached by two posts to a backplate. The bail swings back and forth, allowing fingers to slip under it to open.
• Bail Pulls with Inlaid Backplates. Some backplates may be built of an inlaid material or set directly into the wood of a drawer.
• Ring Pulls. In this type of hardware, a ring hangs from a hinge, and you slip your fingers through the ring to pull open the drawer.
• Drop pulls. Like ring pulls, drop pulls hang from a single hinge. They can often be in the shape of a water droplet and can be made of wood, brass, glass, crystal, or other materials. These were most frequently used on antique dressers and nightstands.
• Knob. Some drawers or dressers feature a simple wooden or metal knob.
• Cup Pulls. Also known as Bin Pulls, these are solid pulls that can resemble a half circle where you place your fingers under the pull to open the drawer.

The First Step

The first step, if you are concerned with finding antique reproduction hardware that is accurate to the era and style of your furniture, is to do a bit of research.

If you have not already, identifying the style of your reproduction is vital for seeking reproduction hardware that matches. For example, if you are replacing your Chippendale reproduction drop-front secretary desk drawer pulls, you will most likely want to find a reputable dealer of replica Chippendale hardware.

Once you've identified the era and style of the piece and found hardware that matches or find replacement hardware that you like, it is time to replace the old with the new.

Replacing Antique Reproduction Hardware

1. The first step is to remove the old hardware. To do this, you must use a screwdriver or a drill to cut down on time. During removal, be careful not to scratch or ding your antique reproduction.
   
   
2. If the new hardware is the same as the old, or the new happens to be the same size and general shape, you will not need to do anything below this step but screw the new hardware on.
   
   a. If you choose an entirely brand-new style of hardware that is different in sizing or position from the original, you will most likely need to fill in the old holes. You can use wood filler, Bondo, or Danish Oil for mahogany types of wood. To ensure that the wood filler blends seamlessly, consider tinting, dying, or purchasing a wood filler that matches the color of the wood.
   
   
3. Once the filler has dried and hardened, make a small mark noting where the old hardware sat, then sand down the filler using 220 grit or higher sandpaper for a smooth finish. Try not to sand away the mark you made.
   
   
4. Use a tack cloth to remove all sanding dust. Rub your finger over the area you filled to feel for any spots or raised bumps. If you do, repeat steps three and four until it feels flat and smooth.
   
   
5. Using the mark you made in step 3, double-check your measurements and adjust to ensure the hardware is straight and even.
   
   
6. Begin drilling using a small drill bit to start the hole. Next, follow up with a drill bit that is the size of, or slightly larger, than the hardware screw you'll be using.
   
   
7. Check the position and make sure the hardware fits. Confirm the positioning before attaching the new hardware.
   
   
8. If the drilled hole and the hardware are aligned to your liking, place the new hardware on your reproduction and use a drill or a screwdriver to attach it.

Care and Maintenance

To ensure the new hardware on your antique reproductions last longer, while you are dusting the furniture piece, take a moment to keep the pulls or knobs clean and free of dust. Check on the tightness of screws and tighten them if needed.

If your new hardware shows dirt buildup, to avoid damaging it, use a tiny drop of mild detergent and water, dampening a soft cloth to scrub the surface gently.

We hope that this guide to replacing your antique reproduction hardware has answered your questions and assisted you in repairing or updating your precious piece. At Laurel Crown, we are dedicated to helping homeowners nationwide furnish their spaces with exquisite handmade reproduction pieces they've always wished for at financially attainable prices.