Cover photo: Light Catcher (2012) by Hélène Béland

Have you ever been in a house from the early 1900s and had your eye caught by a doorknob that looked like a big diamond?

Most of our doorknobs today are made of materials like brass, stainless steel, or even plastics. Seeing a genuine glass doorknob today usually gives away the age of the house and adds an air of antique elegance to an otherwise unremarkable object.

Glass doorknobs were invented in the United States, with some of the earliest models being made by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company in the early 1800s. The original patent for the pressing of molten glass into the iron knob molds was granted to John P. Bakewell in 1825. Previously, doorknobs were made simply of wood or metal and people were looking to add more decorative appeal to their home furnishings. The popularity of the glass doorknob did not take off in a more widespread manner however, until the time of World War I when metal needed to be rationed. Brass, bronze, and iron were being used to make airplanes, military vehicles, and ammunition and the country could not afford to use our metal on home furnishings. This is where the glass knob came in since glass was not a rationed material.

After the war in the 1920s, the glass doorknob stuck around. Facets were added to the knob’s shape to give it that recognizable diamond cut. Going into the Great Depression in the 1930s, they were also made in different colors like other “Depression Era” glassware. These shades included cobalt blue, green, amber, black, white, and more.

In the post- World War II era of the 1950s, most households went back to metal doorknobs, which we have stuck to until today. It can be pretty common to find salvaged glass doorknobs at antique stores around the country, and some new manufacturers are selling brand new knobs that emulate the styles of the knobs from a century ago.

Here at the Wicoff Museum, we still have plenty of glass knobs. Most of them reside in less high-wear areas like closet doors and the attic doors, adding a bit of cherished glitter and charm to the space.