The Dovetail, or Butterfly hinge, as it is now known, is ancient of days, being frequently found on very old desks and cabinets. Its form varies slightly, in keeping with the traditions of its fashioner, being much the same in general contour and ornament whether found in New England or Pennsylvania. In size it ranges from the ponderous door variety, with notches and chamfering, to that on the tiniest box for holding my lady's trinkets.  A great many of these hinges were imported to augment the native supply.

By far the most important of all hinges, from the standpoint of mere numbers, were the H and H L hinges, for they were universally used in all the colonies. To a great extent these hinges were imported from England and the continent to meet the demands of rapidly growing communities and a corresponding dearth of smiths. They were cheap, handwrought, it is true, but factorymade, and furnished in many standard sizes, varying from the large offset and plainer types used on doors and shutters to those of more delicate patterns for closets, cupboards, and cabinets. Of these latter styles, some were beveled and had foliated finials, and sometimes they had line or other ornamental chasing or chamfering.

Legend would have us believe that the shapes of these H and H L hinges were fraught with symbolic meaning; "Holy " and "Holy Lord" and were placed on doors with the superstitious belief that they were a protection against the witchcraft so prevalent in various localities at that time. The use of figures with mystic power in hinge design was an English custom dating from as early as the Norman Conquest, and may have been revived with sufficient power to account for the great popularity of this design. On the other hand, H and H L hinges had been common in England since the Jacobean period and were easy to get, readily put on, and low in price, which were doubtless more potent factors in their widespread use in colonial America.

Sonn 2:2:12

All hinges are sold in pairs unless stated otherwise.
See also Victorian Iron Hinges

Pictures

Cat. No.

Description

Price

H41-SPEC

Staghorn Hinges

$

Pictures

Cat. No.

Description

Price

H37-C50

1½" x 9"

$94.47

H37-C51

1½" x 10"

$97.01

H37-C52

1½" x 12"

$100.04

H37-C53

1½" x 14"

$107.30

Pictures

Cat. No.

Description

Price

H38-C55

1½" x 1"

$42.46

H38-C56

1¾" x 3½"

$52.37

H38-C57

any special size to order

$63.02

Pictures

Cat. No.

Description

Price

H41-B00

3¾" high flush mount

$27.09

H41-B01

3¾" high offset mount

$29.21

H41-B02

4¼" high flush mount

$28.00

H41-B03

4¼" high offset mount

$30.06

H41-C04

3¾" high flush mount

$37.80

H41-C05

3¾" high offset mount

$40.52

H41-C06

4¼" high flush mount

$37.80

H41-C07

4¼" high offset mount

$40.52

Pictures

Cat. No.

Description

Price

H39-B60

3" high, semi hand made

$16.66

H39-B62

4" high, semi hand made

$18.79

H39-B66

7" high, semi hand made

$28.50

H39-B69

9" high, semi hand made

$48.55

H39-C61

3" high, hand forged

$49.23

H39-C63

4" high, hand forged

$49.67

H39-C64

5" high, hand forged

$53.30

H39-C65

6" high, hand forged

$59.88

H39-C67

7" high, hand forged

$64.83

H39-C68

8" high, hand forged

$77.05

H39-C70

9" high, hand forged

$89.08

H39-C71

10" high, hand forged

$102.10

H39-C72

12" high, hand forged

$122.59

H39-C73

14" high, hand forged

$142.63

Picture

Cat. No.

Description

Price

H40-B80

3" high, semi hand made

$23.05

H40-B82

4" high, semi hand made

$25.06

H40-B86

7" high, semi hand made

$40.46

H40-B89

9" high, semi hand made

$67.08

H40-C81

3" high, hand forged

$57.19

H40-C83

4" high, hand forged

$60.70

H40-C84

5" high, hand forged

$65.46

H40-C85

6" high, hand forged

$67.91

H40-C87

7" high, hand forged

$81.25

H40-C88

8" high, hand forged

$98.22

H40-C90

9" high, hand forged

$112.57

H40-C91

10" high, hand forged

$117.71

H40-C92

12" high, hand forged

$132.80

H40-C93

14" high, hand forged

$155.29

Picture

Cat. No.

Description

Price

H39-SPEC

Queen Anne Hinge, 7"

$