Butterfly Hinges
Named for their ornamental, mirror-image leaves, or wings, butterfly hinges have been allowing everything from cupboards to shutters to trunks—anything with a door or a flap or a lid—to gracefully swing open and closed for centuries. “While these hinges enjoyed a peak in popularity from the 1870s to the 1930s, some forms can be traced back as far as medieval England, or more recently, to colonial America,” says hardware historian and architectural consultant Bo Sullivan. Today they are a quick way to give kitchen cabinets and other built-ins a decorative boost and a shot of vintage style. Here, 10 we lit upon that are sure to please.
Scalloped Edges
Hardware Hut $2.23 per pair
Made of: Steel with an oil-rubbed-bronze finish
Size: 2⅜”W x 2¼”H
Highlights: This decorative winged shape is a classic.
To the Point
House of Antique Hardware $4.29 per pair
Made of: Steel with a bronze finish
Size: 3¾”W x 1¾”H
Highlights: Elongated leaves give this faithful reproduction Gothic flair.
Wrought Look
Signature Hardware $5.95 each
Made of: Cast iron
Size: 2⅛”W x 3⅜”H
Highlights: This shapely style, with roots in the Middle Ages, boasts dramatic, sculptural lines.
Ornate Appeal
House of Antique Hardware $7.09 per pair
Made of: Lacquered cast iron
Size: 2⅛”W x 1¼”H
Highlights: This hinge’s fleur-de-lis decoration is pure Victoriana.
Squared Away
Van Dyke’s Restorers $7.07 per pair
Made of: Steel with an antique-copper finish
Size: 2⅜”W x 1¾”H
Highlights: This angular style would suit a Craftsman interior.
Serpentine
Signature Hardware $7.95 each
Made of: Hand-forged iron with an ebony finish
Size: 1 5⁄8″W x 2¾”H
Highlights: This Gothic- style hinge boasts the look of hammered metal.
Primitive Appeal
Van Dyke’s Restorers $4.86 each
Made of: Steel with an antique-rust finish
Size: 3⅜”W x 2″H
Highlights: This strap style hits just the right rustic note.
Winged Beauty
House of Antique Hardware $4.89 per pair
Made of: Steel with a satin black-lacquer finish
Size: 2″W x 2¼”H
Highlights: This simple flared design recalls the handwrought work of colonial-era blacksmiths.
Pint-Size
Van Dyke’s Restorers $5.35 per pair
Made of: Steel with an antique-copper finish
Size: 2″W x 1 7⁄16″H
Highlights: This delicate model would complement a small-scale door.
Sharp Lines
Hardware Hut $3.03 per pair
Made of: Steel with an oil-rubbed-bronze finish
Size: 2½”W x 2″H
Highlights: Pointed leaves add distinction to this circa-1900 model.
