Brass door handle Madeleine/P87 on long backplate - MADE IN FRANCE

La Madeleine, Art Deco curved lever handle

A short, 105 mm Art Deco lever handle with a curved profile: its line slopes sharply downwards, then ends abruptly. It fits comfortably in the hand without projecting beyond the door frame, making it practical in a narrow hallway or behind a door that opens against a wall.

Here it is fitted to the rectangular P87 backplate, the simplest in the range: 220 × 40 mm and 2 mm thick, with four square corners and nothing more. It is the most understated backplate.

Choosing the backplate opening

This is the only decision you need to make before ordering, and it depends on the lock already fitted to your door. Look at what is beneath your current handle:

• Passage — the backplate has no keyhole. For a door that does not lock: a cupboard, child’s bedroom or connecting door.
• Keyhole — the traditional keyhole-shaped opening for a bit key. This is the opening found on older French interior doors.
• Euro cylinder — a round opening for a lock cylinder. Found on more recent locks.
• Privacy — the small thumbturn operated from inside, with an emergency release on the outside. This is the opening used for bathrooms and toilets.

Not sure? Send us a photo of your door with the handle in place, and we’ll tell you which opening to order.

Features

• Lever handle model: Madeleine, Art Deco curved lever handle
• Lever handle length: 105 mm
• Backplate: rectangular P87, 220 × 40 × 2 mm, visible screws
• Material: solid brass
• Backplate opening: passage, keyhole, Euro cylinder or privacy
• Spindle supplied: 7 mm
• Return spring: none — compatible with lift-to-lock mechanisms
• Contents: a pair of lever handles on backplates, a 7 mm spindle and fixings
• Origin: France, Vimeu (Picardy)
• Warranty: 2 years

Finishes

From polished gold to anthracite, with bronze, copper, chrome and nickel finishes in between. Your chosen finish is applied to both the lever handle and the backplate: the matching set comes from the same finishing bath.

The spindle

The spindle is the metal rod that passes through the lock and transfers the movement of the lever handle. Its cross-section varies by country and type of lock.

• 7 mm — supplied as standard. This is the French standard for mortice locks.
• 6 mm — the standard for surface-mounted locks. If your lock case is screwed onto the face of the door, this is very likely the size you need. Let us know when ordering: we will include a 6 mm spindle instead, at no extra charge.
• 8 mm — Switzerland, Belgium and the rest of the European Union. Let us know when ordering. We also check your delivery address: if it is outside France, we make the adjustment without you having to think about it.

Installation

Each lever handle is fitted to its backplate; the two backplates are screwed to either side of the door, and the spindle passes through the lock case to connect them. No new holes are needed if the old handle was also on a backplate: the long backplate covers the marks left by the previous fitting.

These lever handles have no return spring: the lock brings the lever back to the horizontal position. They are therefore suitable for lift-to-lock mechanisms, which require the lever to be lifted before locking. Fixings and an Allen key are included.

Solid brass, cast in Picardy

Gravity-cast in a sand mould, machined, silver-brazed rather than glued, then polished by hand in Vimeu, the historic centre of French architectural ironmongery. The brass is solid: you feel its weight as soon as you pick it up, distinguishing a cast piece from a lightweight alloy shell.

Some finishes are prepared to order: please allow extra time if yours is not already in the workshop.

See also our full range of brass lever handles.