Brass door handle model "Clara" - B364

The essentials

Clara square-section door lever handle in solid brass, made in France. Sold individually, with a spindle, fixings and Allen key. Designed for rim locks, it can also be fitted to a mortice lock with the matching roses.

• Material: solid brass, a substantial, weighty piece
• Length: 125 mm
• Spindle supplied: a 7 mm spindle, the French standard for mortice locks. Let us know if you have a rim lock and we’ll supply a 6 mm spindle, at no extra charge
• Door thickness: up to 44 mm
• No return spring: the lock provides the return action, 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

The lever has a square section: flat faces, crisp edges and no curves. At 125 mm, it is a relatively long lever handle that sits naturally in the hand. In a polished finish, its flat faces catch the light in distinct planes, whereas light moves across a round lever handle in a gradual sheen.

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

Rim 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 is it hidden within the thickness of the door?

The rim lock

The metal lock case is screwed onto the face of the door. It remains visible and becomes part of the look. This is the arrangement found in older houses, and the original use for this lever handle.

On that side, it mounts directly onto the lock case, which already houses 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 conceal marks from an old drilled hole.

In this case, ask for the 6 mm spindle: it is the standard for rim locks and is not supplied by default. Just add a note in the order comments.

You’ll find all our suitable models among our handles for rim 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 that case, each side needs three parts: 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.

Choose 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 to prevent this, so the lever handle retains the shine it had when first fitted.

• Gold finishes - 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 they do not show 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 photos. If you’re unsure which of two similar shades to choose, write to us.

Where it comes from

DCG manufactures in the Vimeu area of Picardy, the historic heart of French architectural hardware — a family business since 1989. Each piece is gravity-cast in a sand mould, silver-brazed and then polished by hand.