Let me show what I've done yesterday to reclaim some beauty. I'm renovating our 1924 apartment, as you may recall. In our front entry door is the original "lockset" -- the 1924 door lock and handle hardware. I've taken it out and prettied it up.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It works well now, oiled and adjusted, the action smooth and easy, and the soft luster of polished and waxed brass looks warm and lovely. Nobody will ever see it except my wife and a few friends (if I point it out to them), but it pleases us, and I like to think it pleases God.
Your work is just like my lock. (Only I hope more people see it!)
Dean's unique take on beauty, that the nuts and bolts can be beautiful, is one I hadn't thought of before. Of course, sometimes the end result of nuts and bolts is to create objects of beauty, but how about the nuts and bolts themselves? They can also be beautiful, albeit often hidden, and add to the overall dignity of beauty. Someone who considers the beauty of nuts and bolts is a true advocate of beauty.
Below is a print of a 1924 Russell & Erwin home hardware advertizement. The script describes the homeowner who devotes attention to the details, and the beauty this "nuts and bolts" type of designer aspires to.
About the Russel & Erwin ad:
This is a rare stunning original 1924 color print ad for the Russell & Erwin Manufacturing Company of New Britain, Connecticut, as well as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and London. This ad features their Russwin distinctive hardware for home improvement, including their doorknobs and locks.
And about Russel & Erwin:
Established in 1846, Russell & Erwin Manufacturing Company of New Britain, Connecticut, created some of the most innovative hardware designs of the Victorian era, including the highly collectible "Doggie Doorknob" and a sought-after line of door hardware ornamented with a geisha. [Source, including photos of hardware items]Even the 1924 poster has elegance.
Below is a contemporary Home Depot poster. Although the soft-focus effect of the photography is pleasant, it doesn't reach the level of refined illustration of the 1924 ad. The dark handle has a simple and attractive design, but I would wager that it isn't inexpensive. I would rather have a Russel & Erwin style lock and handle in my home, and the cost probably won't be that much different.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat