Branford "Ivy" Cast Bronze Aesthetic Door Set, c1885

Description

One of the most popular of the high-end Aesthetic Movement hardware designs of the 1880s, "Ivy" was designed by J.J. Kennedy for the Branford Lock Works and patented in January of 1884 (No. 14,536). Both remarkably ornate and yet subtle in its finely textured relief (notice the finely engraved ivy in the background fill pattern), the series was often found in the nicer upper-middle class and upper class homes of the 1880s. Made in a number of variations, this set has the flat-topped domed knobs and features an unusual privacy latching system that has a second “night latch” keyhole on one side that locks the knob, but it can still be opened on the other side with a simple turn of the knob. Very handy.

Suspiciously similar to Corbin's "Brocade" pattern (see R1136), there is little doubt the two companies were fighting over the same visual turf. Interestingly, the "Ivy" design patent, No. 14,536, was applied for in November of 1883 – one month before Corbin's "Brocade" patent filing in December.

Note: Left hand in-swing only.