Cast Brass Mounts and Furniture Hardware

Cast brass handles, escutcheons, sabots and decorative mounts protect vulnerable areas and enrich furniture. They may be sand-cast, moulded, chased, gilded or finished after casting.

What to look for

Remove a fitting only when necessary and safe. Backs, fixing methods and untouched recesses can reveal construction, but old screws and veneer are easily damaged.

Common mistakes

Bright polishing removes surface, tool marks, gilding and dark residues that can help interpretation. Replacement mounts may leave extra holes or mismatched shadows.

Care and repair

Dust gently and accept an aged surface unless corrosion is active. A metal conservator can distinguish stable patina from damaging products and advise on treatment.

References and further reading

• [V&A furniture collection](https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/furniture)
• [Canadian Conservation Institute: agents of deterioration](https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/agents-deterioration.html)

This article is educational. Test treatments cautiously and consult a conservator before altering a valuable or historically important object.

Watch the workshop approach

See conservation-minded repairs, examinations and techniques on the [Antique Repair Shop YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).