A Short but Sweet Pictorial History of Escutcheons

February 11, 2018

es·cutch·eon (aka. door back plates)

/əˈskəCHən/

noun: escutcheon

2. a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms.
3. a flat piece of metal for protection and often ornamentation, around a keyhole, door handle, or light switch.

Origin: late 15th century: from Anglo-Norman French escuchon, based on Latin scutum ‘shield.’

No matter what you call them by, we have a huge collection of stunning pieces. Ranging from ornately decorated Victorian to stream-lined art deco and everything in between, Hippo has your era covered.

They truly don't make them like they used to--this late 1800s Victorian-era escutcheon boasts an intricate design and a key hole cover:

This Victorian "reole" pattern piece has tiny carved roses, scroll work and elegant lines:

This piece is from approx 1910 and has a japanned finish:

These craftsman/mission styles are minimalist yet stately in both shape and design:

These art deco pieces are iconic in both design and shape with their tell-tale stream-lined yet glitzy details from the 20s through the 40s:

This art deco has a lovely sunburst-like pattern:

Unfortunately the intricate patterns and classic styles were only made through the 1940s. This classic mid-century escutcheon and door set has become the new modern standard.

A far cry from this row of design and craftsmanship:

(DIY hint: don’t want to use them on a door? Use them as a backplate for hooks or anything else you want to display!)

Also in News