Brass door handle model "Angèle" - B4

The essentials

Bordelaise knob door handle in solid brass, made in France. Sold individually, supplied with its square spindle, fixings and hex key. Designed for rim locks, it can also be fitted to a mortice lock with the appropriate roses.

• Material: solid brass, a solid and weighty piece
• Knob diameter: 52 mm
• Spindle included: a 7 mm rod, the French standard for mortice locks. Let us know if you have a rim lock and we will send the 6 mm, at no extra charge
• Door thickness: up to 44 mm
• No return spring: the return action comes from the lock, making this handle inherently compatible with sprung locks
• Finishes: from bright gold to anthracite
• Packaging: one handle, meaning one side of the door. Two are needed to fully equip it
• Manufacturer's warranty: 2 years

No lever here: the hand closes around the knob and the wrist does the turning. At 52 mm in diameter, the ball sits comfortably in an adult's palm — a full grip, rather than a fingertip push. The bordelaise is a classic French ironmongery design, common on the interior doors of townhouses; its round surface catches the light across the entire curve, with no edge to interrupt it.

Is your door more than 44 mm thick? Write to us before ordering and we will check the feasibility.

Rim lock or mortice lock?

This is what determines your order. Look at your door: is the lock casing sitting on the surface of the wood, clearly visible, or is it invisible because it is set into the thickness?

The rim lock

The metal casing is screwed onto the face of the door. It is visible — it is part of the décor. This is the fitting style of older homes, and the original use for which this handle was designed.

On this side, it mounts directly onto the casing, which already carries the entire mechanism: nothing else is needed. On the other side, it passes through bare wood. You may add a rose there — not for functional purposes, but to conceal the marks of a previous drilling.

In that case, request the 6 mm spindle: it is the standard for rim locks and is not included by default. A note in the order comments is all it takes.

Our full range of compatible models can be found in our handles for rim locks.

The mortice lock, also known as a "sash lock"

The casing is set into the thickness of the door leaf: only the forend is visible, on the edge of the door. This is the fitting style of modern doors, and the 7 mm spindle supplied as standard suits it perfectly.

On each face, you will then need three elements: the handle, its rose, and a function rose chosen to suit the lock — cylinder key, bedroom key, or privacy turn for a bathroom or toilet.

The roses that complement this model are shown further up this page, under associated accessories. Not all roses in our catalogue are compatible with DCG pieces: the ones shown have been selected to work together.

Not sure about your lock? Send us a photo of the door and we will tell you what to order.

Choosing the finish

One thing to know before choosing a gold finish: bare brass tarnishes in the air within a few months. Our gold finishes are lacquered, which prevents this — the handle retains the shine it had on the day it was fitted.

• The golds — Polished gold, also known as bright gold: the bold gleam of brass, protected by its lacquer. Matt gold, or satin gold: the same warmth, without the reflection.
• Light greys — Polished chrome, the most reflective. Satin nickel, also known as brushed nickel, and Lacquered nickel: more subdued, and they do not show fingerprints.
• Deep tones — Bronze, a darkened brass with warm reflections. Copper, more rosy. Brushed chrome, aged grey. Anthracite, also known as matt slate, almost black, for a striking contrast on a light-coloured door.

The difference between satin nickel and brushed chrome is hard to tell in a photograph. If you are unsure between two similar shades, write to us.

Where it comes from

DCG manufactures in the Vimeu, in Picardy, the historic heartland of French ironmongery: a family business since 1989. Each piece is sand-cast, silver-brazed, then hand-polished.