Brass door handle model "Yvonne" - B167

The essentials

Yvonne retro-style door lever handle in solid brass, made in France. Sold individually, supplied with a spindle, fixings and an Allen key. Designed for surface-mounted locks, it can also be fitted to a mortice lock with the matching roses.

• Material: solid brass, a solid, weighty piece
• Length: 103 mm
• Spindle supplied: a 7 mm spindle, the French standard for mortice locks. Tell us if you have a surface-mounted lock and we’ll supply a 6 mm spindle at no extra charge
• Door thickness: up to 44 mm
• No return spring: the return action comes from the lock, making this lever handle compatible with lift-to-lock mechanisms as standard
• Finishes: from bright gold to anthracite
• Pack contents: one lever handle, for one side of the door. You need two to fit both sides
• Manufacturer’s warranty: 2 years

At 103 mm, Yvonne is a short lever handle: it fits without getting in the way on a connecting door, cupboard door or narrow door leaf. Its retro design belongs alongside period ironmongery, where it can replace a porcelain knob without looking out of place. You can feel the solid brass in your hand: the piece is solid, cool at first touch, and its weight is noticeable as soon as you pick it up.

Is your door more than 44 mm thick? Write to us before ordering and we’ll check whether it’s suitable.

Surface-mounted lock or mortice lock?

This determines what you need to order. Look at your door: is the lock case mounted on the wood and clearly visible, or hidden within the thickness of the door?

The surface-mounted lock

The metal lock case is screwed onto the face of the door. It remains visible and forms part of the look. This is how locks are fitted in older houses, and what this lever handle was originally designed for.

On that side, it mounts directly onto the lock case, which already contains the entire mechanism: nothing else is needed. On the other side, it passes through the bare wood. You can add a rose there, not for function but to cover the marks left by an old drill hole.

In this case, request the 6 mm spindle: it is the standard size for surface-mounted locks and is not supplied by default. Just add a note to your order.

You’ll find all our suitable models among our lever handles for surface-mounted locks.

The mortice lock, also known as a recessed lock

The lock case is recessed into the door leaf: only the faceplate is visible on the door edge. This is the arrangement used on modern doors, and the 7 mm spindle supplied as standard is suitable for it.

In this case, you need three components on each side: the lever handle, its rose and a function rose chosen to suit the lock – cylinder keyhole, standard keyhole or privacy for a bathroom or toilet.

The roses that match this model are listed higher up this page under related accessories. Not every rose in the catalogue fits DCG pieces: these have been selected to go together.

Not sure which lock you have? Send us a photo of the door and we’ll tell you what to order.

Choosing the finish

One thing to know before choosing a gold tone: untreated brass tarnishes in the air within a few months. Our gold finishes are lacquered to prevent this, so the lever handle keeps the shine it had when first fitted.

• Gold tones - Polished gold, also called bright gold: the clear shine of brass, protected by lacquer. Matt gold, or satin gold: the same warmth, without the shine.
• Light greys - Polished chrome, the most reflective. Satin nickel, also called brushed nickel, and Lacquered nickel: more muted and resistant to fingerprints.
• Deep shades - Bronze, darkened brass with warm highlights. Copper, with a pinker tone. Brushed chrome, an aged grey. Anthracite, also called matt slate, almost black, for contrast against a light-coloured door.

The difference between satin nickel and brushed chrome is hard to see in a photo. If you’re torn between two similar shades, write to us.

Where it comes from

DCG manufactures in the Vimeu area of Picardy, the historic centre of French architectural ironmongery. It has been a family business since 1989.

Each piece is gravity-cast in a sand mould, silver-brazed, then polished by hand.