Adam suggested coffee grounds as a naturally acidic material to age the brass but said that method takes a few days. When I picked up the pulls this morning, they looked like new brass (as they should have, being new brass)–not shiny, but totally lacking in the character that comes with age.

Next week’s post will go through the process he used to make the pull. We discussed the design and budget, and I gave him the green light to make a couple of door pulls clearly related to the Lebus original, but simpler (because budget…). Not only is Adam an accomplished sculptor with a broad range of techniques he’s also very good at solving problems and coming up with ways to produce a desired effect without breaking the bank. So I contacted metal artist Adam Nahas of Cyclops Studios, who has fabricated custom hardware for some of my other pieces.

antiques dealers Puritan Values, but the version they have on offer is too large for a small door like the one on the bedside cabinet. What would have been perfect is a reproduction Lebus pull such as this one, available through U.K. The latch was fine for the customer’s needs, but it was not really right for the piece. To keep costs down, I fitted it with a salvaged surface-mounted latch. I based some critical details of the design on a line of work manufactured by Harris Lebus of Tottenham, though that company never made a piece like it. One of the pieces I wanted to take is a bedside cabinet I built several years ago for a commission. (Mark will get to savor the minimalist surroundings he always claims to wish for when our kitchen/dining table and sideboard are gone.) So I decided to follow Michael Fortune’s advice and take pieces that were already made, borrowing them from others and raiding our own home. I couldn’t say no to the opportunity I’d wanted to be part of the event for years, but it has always been exceedingly hard to get in. There was no time to build anything new–well, other than an end wall for my booth–because I was already juggling multiple deadline jobs at the bench (and at the keyboard). I was limited in what sizes I could order because apparently everyone during the virus wanted to renovate their hardware! So I had to order smaller sizes then what we planned and I couldn't afford to double up each drawer! haha! I already needed 70 pieces for my kitchen alone! So when the 4' pieces came, they were just too small.After I accepted Bruce Johnson’s completely-out-of-the-blue invitation to exhibit my work at the 32nd Annual Grove Park Inn Arts and Crafts Conference in Asheville this February, I scrambled to find some pieces to take. I chose the Laquared Aged Brass in these! It was a toss up and ALMOST did the unlaquared but I just don't have a lot of experience in knowing much about how brass patinas so I went with aged! The pieces are beautiful, of course! In the end, we did decide against them for a couple reasons. 15 restocking fee applied to all returns. Shipping costs are non refundable when item is returned. This item is made of unlacquered brass which will acquire patina. I needed a company where I could see their stock online easily! (The Corona Virus had me shopping online only!) So I ordered the Mission Bin Pull ($17), Mission Drawer Pull in 4' ($17), and Ball Knob (not pictured, backordered, $11). These unlacquered polished brass bin cup drawer pulls can be used on kitchen cabinets or as a brass drawer pull. I mean, how could I resist? I didn't want to make this jump in price but I was finding there wasn't many other options for me. After another strike out, I decided to look into Rejuvenation.

Unlacquered brass patina