Before and after of a brass urn door knocker, severely corroded surface restored to a bright polished lacquered finish.
Brass urn door knocker — heavy corrosion removed, polished, and relacquered.

ANTIQUE BRASS HARDWARE RESTORATION AND REFINISHING

​Restoration and refinishing of antique and contemporary brass door, cabinet, and architectural hardware.
​Chelsea Plating Company in Philadelphia restores brass hardware for clients in the city and across the United States. Work ranges from antique brass hardware restoration and refinishing of full door sets to careful cleaning and polishing of individual knobs, hinges, and cabinet pulls. Many visitors first find the workshop while searching for a hardware restorer, ways to refinish brass hardware, or hardware restoration near them and choose to ship their pieces to Philadelphia. Typical projects include door knobs and backplates, door knockers and mail slots, cabinet and furniture hardware, and small architectural fittings. Finishes are tailored to age and use, from bright polished and relacquered surfaces to softened tones that sit comfortably with older woodwork.
​Send clear photos and dimensions to begin.

AT A GLANCE

  • Door knobs, backplates, and complete entry sets
  • Door knockers, hinges, latches, locks, and mail slots
  • Cabinet pulls, bin pulls, furniture hardware, and window or sash fittings
  • Brass, bronze, and selected mixed-metal or plated hardware
  • Old paint, tarnish, and lacquer removed; surface detail clarified
  • Polishing, tone adjustment, relacquering, and light straightening where possible
  • Hardware disassembled where practical for thorough cleaning and safe refinishing
  • Finishes suited to normal household use; high-contact areas will wear over time
  • All work carried out in the Philadelphia workshop; no on-site work or installation
  • Packing guidance provided before shipping; return shipping arranged from the studio
Before and after of an antique brass door knob, scratched dull face polished to a bright reflective finish with clear lattice border detail.
Antique brass door knob — worn surface refinished, lattice border detail clarified.

DOOR HARDWARE: KNOBS, BACKPLATES, AND ENTRY SETS

​Brass door knobs, backplates, and entry sets often arrive with layers of paint, uneven tarnish, and worn or mismatched finishes. In restoration, hardware is disassembled where practical so lock fronts, knobs, spindles, and plates can be cleaned and refinished as a coherent set. Old paint, lacquer, and corrosion are removed carefully to preserve stamped or cast detail around keyholes, beading, and pattern work.

​Polishing is adjusted to the project. Some door sets are brought back to a bright, mirror-like finish and then relacquered for stability. Others are given a softer tone so restored pieces sit comfortably alongside original hinges or strike plates that will remain in use. Where possible, minor bends and misalignment are corrected so knobs sit square and plates register cleanly against the door surface.
Before and after of brass mail slot, door handle, house numbers, and escutcheons, spotted and tarnished pieces refinished to an even polished set.
Brass mail slot, handle, and house numbers — uneven finish corrected and set polished as a group.

DOOR KNOCKERS, HINGES, LATCHES, AND MAIL SLOTS

​Ornate brass door knockers, strap hinges, surface bolts, and mail slots often show deep patina, pitting, and streaks from weather exposure. These pieces are treated as both functional objects and architectural ornaments. Old coatings and corrosion are reduced to clarify crisp modeling in lions’ heads, rings, crests, and lettering while respecting the depth of older castings.

Where condition allows, knockers, hinges, and latches are polished and then protected with a clear lacquer to slow future tarnishing. Some outdoor hardware is finished to a slightly warmer or darker tone so that new surfaces do not look out of place on an older door. Light straightening, screw-hole clean-up, and basic surface correction are included where feasible, but any structural repairs or missing parts are discussed in advance.
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Mail slots and letter plates receive similar treatment. Raised lettering, borders, and beveled edges are cleaned so text and profiles read clearly from a distance. Exposed faces are polished and relacquered; unseen interior surfaces may be cleaned but not brought to the same level of finish, depending on use and access.
Before and after of an ornate brass door knocker, heavy green corrosion cleaned away and surface refinished to a bright polished lacquered finish.
Ornate brass door knocker — green corrosion removed, polished, and relacquered.

CABINET AND WINDOW HARDWARE, PROCESS, AND SHIPPING

​Smaller hardware such as cabinet knobs, bin pulls, finger plates, sash lifts, window fasteners, and furniture mounts is often sent in sets. Each group is documented so counts remain correct throughout restoration. Pieces are degreased, stripped of failing lacquer or paint, and then polished to a consistent tone across the full set. Where the metal allows, scratches and minor marks are reduced so edges and profiles feel crisp in the hand.

Some older pieces are brass-plated rather than solid. In those cases, metal thickness and condition are reviewed from photos and, if needed, in person before work begins. If polishing would risk cutting through a thin plated layer, alternative approaches and likely outcomes are explained so clients can make an informed choice.
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All work is carried out in the Philadelphia workshop. Before you ship hardware, you receive packing guidance to keep small pieces organized and protected in transit. Once work is complete, return shipping is arranged from the studio using the carrier you select. Clients remain responsible for carrier choice and any insurance, and no on-site polishing or installation is offered.
Before and after of an antique brass door knob, heavily patinated surface cleaned and rosette design polished to a bright finish.
Antique brass door knob — dark patina reduced and rosette detail clarified.
​Send clear photos and dimensions to begin.

BEFORE AND AFTER GALLERY

​The gallery below shows brass hardware restored in the Philadelphia workshop, including door plates, knockers, mail slots, cabinet fittings, and fireplace andirons. Many pieces arrived with layers of paint, deep tarnish, and corrosion, and left with clarified detail, adjusted tone, and protective finishes suited to daily use.
Before and after of a Mura pattern brass door plate, dark tarnished surface cleaned and center field polished while patterned border remains crisp.
Mura pattern brass door plate — heavy tarnish removed, polished field, border detail clarified.
Before and after of a decorative brass rosette door knob, dull brown finish restored to a reflective polished surface with crisp ring detail.
Decorative brass rosette door knob — concentric rings cleaned and polished to an even tone.
Before and after of an antique brass “LETTERS” letterplate, dull brown surface cleaned and polished while the word LETTERS stands out crisply.
Antique brass “LETTERS” letterplate — dark patina reduced and field polished to an even tone.
Before and after of an antique ornate brass door knocker, verdigris and tarnish removed and leaf pattern restored to a clear polished appearance.
Antique ornate brass door knocker — verdigris reduced and leaf detail clarified.
Before and after of an antique brass urn-style door knocker, dark patina cleaned away and metal polished to an even reflective tone.
Antique brass urn door knocker — dark patina reduced and surface clarified.
Before and after of an antique brass ring door knocker, dark patina cleaned away and metal polished to a smooth, even finish.
Antique brass ring door knocker — aged patina reduced and hardware finished to an even tone.
Before and after of a brass lattice-pattern door knob, darkened metal cleaned and dome polished to a smooth mirror-like surface.
Brass lattice-pattern door knob — dark patina reduced and dome polished to a mirror finish.
Before and after of an ornate brass door escutcheon, verdigris and tarnish cleaned away and surface polished to a bright lacquered finish.
Ornate brass door escutcheon — green corrosion removed, polished, and relacquered.
Before and after of antique brass entry hardware including mail slot, pull handle, and house numbers, dull surfaces restored to bright lacquered brass.
Antique brass entry hardware — letter plate, handle, and numbers cleaned, polished, and relacquered.
Before and after of an antique brass bathroom faucet set laid out in pieces, tarnished parts refinished to an even satin brass tone.
Antique brass bathroom faucet set — disassembled components cleaned, refinished, and toned to match.

FAQ

WHAT TYPES OF BRASS HARDWARE DO YOU RESTORE?
Typical projects include door knobs and backplates, complete entry sets, door knockers, hinges, locks, mail slots, cabinet and furniture hardware, window and sash fittings, and small architectural plates and escutcheons. If a piece is closely related to these, photos can usually confirm whether it is a good candidate for restoration.

WHAT KINDS OF DAMAGE CAN YOU ADDRESS IN BRASS HARDWARE?
Tarnish, corrosion, surface staining, and old paint or lacquer can often be removed. Light scratches and minor bends are reduced where possible, and misaligned parts are corrected so hardware sits and moves more cleanly. Deep dents, cracks, or other structural issues are reviewed case by case, and any limits are explained before work begins.

CAN YOU MATCH EXISTING FINISHES OR LEAVE SOME AGE?
Where the metal allows, hardware can be polished to a bright reflective finish, brought to a softer satin tone, or adjusted so restored pieces sit comfortably with older hinges or plates. Some age and wear are often left in low areas to keep an appropriate character. All finishes on working hardware will develop natural wear over time, especially on high-contact areas.

HOW DOES SHIPPING WORK FOR BRASS HARDWARE?
All brass hardware work is carried out in the Philadelphia workshop. Before you ship, you receive packing guidance so small parts stay organized and protected. When the project is complete, return shipping is arranged from the studio using the carrier you choose. Clients remain responsible for carrier choice and any insurance, and no on-site polishing or installation is offered.
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HOW DO I REQUEST AN ESTIMATE FOR BRASS HARDWARE?
For an estimate, send clear photos of each piece or set, group similar items together, and include approximate dimensions and any known issues. You can submit these through the Request an Estimate form, and you will receive a reply with likely treatments, timing, and next steps before any work proceeds.
Send clear photos and dimensions to begin.

RELATED PAGES

​Brass, Copper and Bronze Restoration and Repair — Broad brass, copper, and bronze object restoration and refinishing.
Brass Restoration and Repair — Fireplace pieces, candlesticks, samovars, and decorative brass objects.
Brass Polishing and Cleaning — Surface cleaning, polishing, and tone adjustment for brass pieces.
Brass Refinishing — Stripping, refinishing, and relacquering of brass with adjusted tone and sheen.
Request an Estimate — Send photos and dimensions to discuss a restoration project.