Like brass, bronze is not a product of nature, but the result of human ingenuity. Bronze is a copper-tin alloy (hence the term “tin bronze” which is still in use today).

The special properties of bronze have laid the foundation for a great number of inventions – in the distant past as well as in our present high-tech era. A whole epoch in the history of mankind has been justly named after this metal: “the Bronze Age”. After copper had been the only metal in general use for a long time, people learned to produce alloys from several different metals to extend and improve their usefulness. While pure copper is relatively soft, bronze is much stronger and harder due to its tin content. Moreover, bronze is extremely corrosion- and wear-resistant.

A metal with a special character.

The most obvious characteristics of bronze in the true sense of the word are those which become evident in long-term use. The charm of bronze fittings increases with the passing of time. The patina of use increases the special aesthetic attractiveness of this material and the door handles made from it. Polished bronze parts darken under exposure to air plus environmental factors. The patina must not be seen as a defacement of the material, but rather as a proof of authentic ageing and additional value imparted by transformation. The patina is also a natural layer protecting the surface and functioning like a sealing lacquer.

The tradition of bronze in architecture.

By offering a range of door handle designs in bronze, FSB has revived a tradition that has been unjustly neglected at the height of post-modern architecture. In antiquity as well as in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, bronze played a major part in architecture. To this day, doors and portals in prestigious buildings are an impressive testimony to this material’s importance. Many architects have always appreciated the noble touch of bronze – even before its rediscovery in the prestigious building projects for the new city centre of Berlin.

FSB manufactures bronze fittings with two different surface finishes: polished or artificially aged. The appeal of polished bronze is its fine, natural gloss. The surface develops a natural patina with the passing of time. Artificially aged fittings are treated by a special process developed by FSB which accelerates the natural ageing process. In this way, we can achieve any shade of bronze according to your personal taste, for which you would have to wait for a long time during a natural ageing process.

FSB 7305 Bronze polished and waxed

FSB 7615 Bronze artificially aged and waxed