During the Victorian era in the United States, ornate door knob sets were considered essential to any home because they offered added elegance to rooms and were a focal point in design. Most homes built during this period were in the Elizabethan, Eastlake or similar styles which had a lot of emphasis placed on the smaller details of design. Creating "carved" patterns was popular and showed up in interior and exterior architecture and decorating styles.
Glass door knob sets come in all shapes and sizes but the most popular design is still the fluted glass knob. This design is reminiscent of the glass used in most Victorian homes and has a timeless beauty that works well in both old and new homes. Glass knobs are also available in octagon, oval, pumpkin and round designs.
Perhaps the most unique element of design offered with a glass door knob set is the rosette plate. A rosette is a plate that is attached directly to the door and covers the bore hole. This plate can either be screwed directly into a wood door or some styles are "interconnecting" and screw into each other. NOTE: It is important to check if a particular plate requires a smaller or no bore hole for installation.
An ornate Victorian doorknob set traditionally features a glass knob with a decorative rosette plate. The designs vary but can feature abstract designs with curls, fleur de lis patterns, scrollwork or feature extremely geometric patterns (this would be reminiscent of the popular Eastlake style). Since homes built during this time were an eclectic mix of architectural styles there is no one true "Victorian" door knob style.
Choosing a new door knob set is a wonderful way to update the look of your home or restore an older home to its original beauty. Search for solid brass and glass or crystal construction and be sure to ask questions. LookInTheAttic & Company offers a wide variety of ornate door knob sets for the home and these are available in a variety of styles for different applications. Remember that small details matter and sometimes a small change can have the most dramatic effect on the appearance of a room.
Kohn Coleman born in Michigan - received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 2000. He is president of LookInTheAttic & Company online athttp://www.LookInTheAttic.com and authors numerous articles and publications on historical architecture.