Brass door handle Elise - B171

The essentials

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

• Material: solid brass, a full and heavy piece
• Length: 91 mm
• Spindle supplied: a 7 mm square spindle, the French standard for mortice locks. Let us know if you have a rim lock and we will supply the 6 mm, at no extra charge
• Door thickness: up to 44 mm
• No return spring: the return action comes from the lock, which makes this handle compatible as standard with lift-lever locks
• Finishes: from bright gold to anthracite
• Packaging: one handle, meaning one side of the door. Two are needed to fully equip a door
• Manufacturer's warranty: 2 years

The pear shape gives its name to this design: the lever widens towards its end and finishes as a full, rounded volume with no edge or flat. At 91 mm, it is a short handle that projects little into the doorway and remains unobtrusive on a narrow door leaf. The grip is taken with a full hand, the palm resting on the bulbous end.

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

Rim lock or mortice lock?

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

The rim lock

The metal case is screwed onto the face of the door. It is visible and forms part of the décor. This is the fitting method used in older houses, and the original application for this handle.

On this side, it mounts directly onto the case, which already carries the full mechanism: nothing else is required. On the other side, it passes through bare wood. You may add a rose there — not for functional reasons, but to conceal marks left by a previous drilling.

In that case, ask for the 6 mm square spindle: it is the standard for rim locks, and it is not supplied by default. A note in the order comments is all that is needed.

All our compatible models can be found in our handles for rim locks.

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

The case is set into the thickness of the door leaf: only the faceplate is visible, on the edge of the door. This is the fitting method used on modern doors, and the 7 mm square spindle supplied as standard is suited to it.

In that case, three elements are needed on each face: the handle, its rose, and a functional rose chosen according to the lock — keyhole escutcheon, bedroom key, or privacy turn for a bathroom or toilet.

The roses that match this model are shown higher up on this page, in the associated accessories. Not all roses in the catalogue are compatible with DCG parts: the ones listed here have been selected to work together.

Unsure 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 lustre it had on the day of installation.

• The golds — Polished gold, also called bright gold: the frank brilliance of brass, protected by its lacquer. Matt gold, or satin gold: the same warmth, without the sheen.
• The 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.
• The deep tones — Bronze, a darkened brass with warm highlights. Copper, more rose-tinted. 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 tell in a photograph. If you are hesitating between two similar shades, write to us.

Where it comes from

DCG manufactures in the Vimeu area of Picardy, a family business since 1989. Each piece is gravity cast in a sand mould, silver brazed, then hand polished.