Antique Cast Bronze Nyc Public School Doorknob

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On offer is an authentic antique cast bronze New York City Public School doorknob, dating back to the late 19th … Read more On offer is an authentic antique cast bronze New York City Public School doorknob, dating back to the late 19th or early 20th century. It is a highly collectible piece of American architectural salvage and civic history.
These specialized doorknobs were manufactured during the Progressive Era (circa 1890–1910). Following the 1898 unification of the five boroughs under one central government, elaborate institutional hardware like this was purposefully designed to project a sense of uniformity, order and authority across public spaces.
Accordingly, they were installed across nearly 350 public school buildings built during a massive civic infrastructure boom. This specific emblematic oval design was originally produced by the famous hardware manufacturer Sargent & Co. (and occasionally P&F Corbin). It was listed in their 1900 catalog as part of the P-60001 Public School group.
Made of cast bronze (or heavy institutional brass), the piece exhibits a wonderful naturally aged, dark verdigris patina from over a century of use. The oval face is heavily embossed with ornate scrollwork detailing and a bold, condensed sans-serif font reading "PUBLIC SCHOOL / CITY OF NEW YORK". The side and rear profiles show the standard threaded collar and a square spindle hole. It utilizes a standard commercial straight spindle common to antique mortise locks of that timeframe.
Signature/Maker’s Mark: Nonexistent. See less