Door Pulls, Vintage 1970s, Carved Wood & Brass Duck Head Design, Set of 2

Carved wood meets cast brass in this set of vintage door pulls, where a pair of duck heads add unexpected charm to an everyday hardware upgrade.

• Maker: Unknown
• Materials: Wood and Brass
• Dimensions: 11.0 inches long
• Origin: Unknown
• Era: Vintage, 1970s–1980s (estimated)
• Condition: Used, very good condition with attractive old brass patina (unpolished). No installation hardware included. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

Each brass duck head bears an impressed capital "B" on the neck — a mark consistent with two well-known American reproduction hardware makers of the era: Ball & Ball, founded in Exton, Pennsylvania in 1932, or Virginia Metalcrafters of Waynesboro, Virginia, whose brass foundry (established 1938) produced reproduction fittings for Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, and the Smithsonian. The true maker of this set has not been confirmed. These pulls are substantial, weighing nearly 3 pounds each, and may not be suitable for hollow-core doors. Pre-drilled holes are designed for surface mounting; screws are not included.

A striking choice for a lake house, farmhouse, or country-style entry, or for anyone drawn to hardware with real personality rather than the standard builder-grade pull.

Both candidate makers represent a golden era of American reproduction metalwork that began in the early-to-mid 20th century, when firms revived the hand-casting techniques of 18th-century craftsmen to supply historic sites and homeowners alike. Ball & Ball traces its lineage to English armorers working before 1700, and the company has operated out of its small Exton, Pennsylvania plant since 1932, producing hardware built exactly as originals were made. Virginia Metalcrafters, founded in Waynesboro as a stove company in 1890, added a brass foundry in 1938 and went on to supply reproduction fittings to Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, and the Smithsonian before closing in 2006. As country, farmhouse, and lodge styles gained popularity in the 1970s and 80s, hardware makers like these began branching out from strictly colonial forms into figural and animal motifs — like the duck heads on this set — to meet a growing appetite for hardware with personality.

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