Butterfly Hinge
Butterfly hinges were made in the 17th and 18th centuries for use on cabinet doors. They came in a variety of sizes and styles. Originally the hinges were held to the woodwork with small nails. Our hinges are made so that special wrought head screws can be used.
Butterfly Hinges
This is a drawing of an 18th century American corner cupboard that has a pair of butterfly hinges on the lower door.
This plate is from an article illustrated byDorothy Miller Thompson, that originally appeared in The Magazine Antiques in December 1927 (from Antique Metalware, edited by James Mitchell, Universe Books, introduction ©1977).
Moxon in his Mechanick Exercises has a plate that shows hinges and locks and other specialised kinds of blacksmithing. We have highlighted the butterfly hinge. Moxon called them “duftail” hinges in his section on blacksmithing.
Plate 2 from the smithing section, Mechanick Exercises by Joseph Moxon, third edition published in 1703, this is reproduced from a modern reprint.
Making a Latch
is a description, with photos, of the steps we go through to make a Suffolk Latch.
Making a Hinge
is a description, like Making a Latch, that shows the steps we go through to make a Butterfly Hinge.
Making a Grip
shows the process for making a Cabinet Grip.
Blacksmith's Blog Posts
collects posts we created for the Horton Brasses blog in 2010 and 2011. There's information about the shop, what we make and how we make it, including links to two videos.
Tools of the Trade
shows some of the tools in Molly’s blacksmith shop.
Making a Living
describes how we became blacksmiths.
Glossary of Blacksmithing Terms
is linked to various words that are not commonly known by non-smiths throughout this section of the site.