Close to Franchhoek lies the farm L’Ormarins, where I have been commissioned to manufacture escutcheon plates, handles, catches and bolts for the Cape Dutch manor house. Belonging to the Ruperts, a family who invested millions and lots of effort to preserve our heritage, all the buildings on the farm are well maintained and restored as […]
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Vintage Metals manufactures handmade architectural hardware with a contemporary finish to suit the customer’s needs. These brass strap hinges with brushed nickel finish were manufactured for a client who live at the seaside and required something that will not rust and will match the other hardware in the house. Brass hardware becomes increasingly popular […]
Vintage Metals restores all kinds of brass, copper and steel products for various antique dealers and collectors. Over time we developed skills to match the colour of the replaced part to the rest of the patina without affecting the appearance of the item. Restored samples Pier Rabe Antiques is one of our oldest customers […]
Antique restoration – Vintage Metals Vintage Metals restored this antique 19th century Russian 10kg scale and also made a replica of the copper container that goes with the scale. The owner found a picture of a painting made of a similar scale showing the copper container. These Russian 10kg scales differ from one […]
Bergvliet Manor House On the southern side of Cape Town, not far from Groot Constantia, lies Bergvliet Manor House. Just starting my business in 2005, I had a call from the owner to discuss my future involvement in the project. Little did I envisage then how important this project would prove to become to me. […]
Escutcheon Plates A client built a replica of Groote Schuur Manor House, and requested these plates. They are replicas of the door escutcheons found on Groote Schuur’s back stoep, one of Rhodes’s favourite places for entertaining his guests. The doors were moved from the castle by Herbert Baker when the Imhoff battery was demolished in […]
Old Lock This large lock, measuring 180 x 230 x 30 mm, was discovered during foundation excavations in Cape Town. I bought it from an antique shop in Plumstead, still covered in mud and rust. I first removed the worst grime with soap and water and then started taking the lock apart. It took some […]