From The Anvil Finishes

A Guide to From The Anvil Finishes: Black, Pewter, Brass, Bronze and Nickel

From The Anvil makes its door, window and cabinet hardware, lighting and accessories in more than 20 finishes, so you can match the ironmongery right through a property, from the front door knocker to the kitchen cupboard knobs. Each finish below links to every From The Anvil product we sell in it.

The finishes fall into four families: hand forged blacksmith finishes on steel and iron; solid brass and bronze finishes, some living and some lacquered; bright and satin nickel, chrome and marine grade stainless steel; and two timber finishes.

Blacksmith Finishes: Black, Pewter and Beeswax

• Black: hand forged mild steel, powder coated and baked, with a subtle sheen. A bold choice for traditional homes, and suitable outside.
• Matt Black: forged steel with a powder coated, subtle black patina that suits modern and traditional interiors alike.
• Pewter Patina: forged steel, aged, barrelled and lacquered. Refined and traditional, lovely with oak and painted timber.
• Beeswax: mild steel dipped in hot beeswax, keeping blue and red ochre tones in the metal. Ideal for cottages, for internal use.
• External Beeswax: the same look, with an anti-corrosive beeswax so it can be fitted outside as well as inside.
• Iron, Natural Smooth and Natural Textured: cast iron with a clear protective finish, for traditional and industrial interiors.

Brass and Bronze Finishes

• Aged Brass: solid unlacquered brass, aged then repolished so a darker patina stays in the recesses. A living finish that darkens over time.
• Polished Brass: solid unlacquered brass, bright and classic for period properties. It darkens with age and can be polished back.
• Satin Brass: solid brass brushed to a matt finish and lacquered, a more contemporary alternative to polished and aged brass.
• Burnished Brass: solid brass, aged and barrelled for a soft, burnished warmth, then lacquered.
• Lacquered Brass: bright brass with a lacquer that resists discolouration, for a low maintenance polished look.
• Aged Bronze and Polished Bronze: solid bronze with at least 85% copper, either dark and matt or bright and reflective.
• Antique Pewter: plated, patinated and hand rubbed on solid brass, a slightly darker alternative to Pewter Patina.

Nickel, Chrome and Marine Grade Stainless Steel

• Polished Nickel: bright and reflective with warm undertones, for contemporary and traditional homes.
• Polished Chrome and Satin Chrome: chrome plated solid brass, high sheen or brushed and understated.
• Satin Marine Stainless Steel and Polished Marine Stainless Steel: grade 316 stainless steel for coastal and highly polluted locations.

Timber Finishes

Ebony is rosewood darkened by a traditional technique, striking with polished brass or nickel. Rosewood is waxed rosewood with a rich red hue, traditional with brass and contemporary with nickel.

From The Anvil Finishes: Questions

Which From The Anvil finishes can be used outside?

From The Anvil describes its Black, Matt Black and Pewter Patina finishes as ideal externally where damp conditions are expected, and External Beeswax as protecting the steel both internally and externally. For coastal locations and highly polluted environments it recommends its Satin and Polished Marine grade 316 stainless steel. Standard Beeswax is made for internal use.

Which finishes change over time?

Aged Brass and Polished Brass are solid, unlacquered brass. They are living finishes that keep oxidising and darken over time, and can be polished to bring back the brighter finish. Polished Bronze is lacquered, but From The Anvil says bronze will naturally darken and can be restored with a beeswax based furniture polish. Lacquered finishes such as Satin Brass, Burnished Brass and Lacquered Brass are protected to stay consistent.

What is the difference between Beeswax and External Beeswax?

They look the same: soft and natural, with subtle blue and deep red ochre tones in the steel. Both are hand forged from mild steel and dipped in hot beeswax. External Beeswax uses an anti-corrosive beeswax that From The Anvil says is unique to it, so it can be fitted internally and externally.

What is the difference between Polished Nickel and Polished Chrome?

Both are plated onto solid brass. From The Anvil applies a single plating for Polished Nickel, so warm, brassy undertones show through. Polished Chrome has a cooler, very high sheen that suits modern interiors.

Can I see the finishes before I buy?

Yes. Both our T.H. Wiggans showroom in Kendal and our Trade Door Handles showroom in Carlisle have From The Anvil displays, so you can compare the finishes side by side. Contact us before you travel if you want to see a particular finish.

Trade Door Handles is part of T.H. Wiggans Ironmongery, an independent architectural ironmonger trading since 1976. We have supplied From The Anvil for decades, and both our T.H. Wiggans showroom in Kendal and our Trade Door Handles showroom in Carlisle have From The Anvil displays, so you can see the finishes before you order. Visit our showrooms or contact our team for help choosing.