Service
Hardware and fittings
Locks, hinges, handles and castors cleaned, repaired or matched, and glass and mirror panels replaced, so the piece works as well as it looks.
What this covers
Original hardware is part of a piece's history and often part of its value, so we keep it wherever we can. Most locks, hinges and handles can be cleaned, freed and repaired. When something is missing we find or make a replacement that matches the rest, rather than fitting whatever is to hand.
- Stiff, broken or missing locks and keys
- Loose, bent or broken hinges
- Missing handles, pulls and escutcheons
- Worn or seized castors
- Tarnished or over-polished brass
- Cracked or missing glass and mirror panels
How we do it
Hardware is removed, cleaned of old polish and grime, and repaired. We stop short of making old brass look new; a little tone is usually right. Screw holes that have worn loose are plugged and re-drilled so fittings sit firmly again.
Missing pieces are matched with old hardware where a good match can be found, or reproduced from a surviving example. Glass and mirror are cut to fit and set in with the right glazing method for the piece.
What to send us
A photograph of the whole piece, close-ups of each fitting that needs attention, and a photograph of a surviving matching fitting if one is missing. Tell us if a lock has no key.
From the journal
The problem with screws and filler
Why quick fixes with screws, nails and wood filler damage old furniture joints over time, and how a restorer takes those repairs apart.
Repair or replace: when restoration is worth it
A plain guide to deciding whether an old piece of furniture is worth restoring, with the questions a restorer asks before quoting.
Cleaning old furniture without damaging it
How to clean antique and heirloom furniture safely at home, what to avoid, and why spray furniture polish usually does more harm than good.
Have a piece that needs attention?
Send three or four photographs and we will come back within two working days.