big lion head door knocker

Discussion in 'Metalware' started by charlie cheswick, Jul 29, 2021.

  1. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    hey peeps

    something i found yesterday in an antiquey shop for £2

    looked quite old, big (5 1/2")and heavy, and thought i would strip all the paint off

    but quite the way it looks now, think i might keep it like its shabby self

    there seems an awful lot of reproductions about, so wondering if this looks old and genuine

    cast iron ?

    any thoughts appreciated

    aa1.jpg aa2.jpg aa3.jpg aa4.jpg aa5.jpg aa6.jpg aa7.jpg aa8.jpg
     
  2. Van_Poperin

    Van_Poperin Well-Known Member

    Great find for £2! I’d make sure I know what the surface is like before stripping, but if you choose to not, it’s still very pleasing to look at!
     
  3. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    Nice find, Chesaroo! I do have a weakness for big knockers ;)

    Looks like brass or bronze. See if a magnet sticks.
     
    charlie cheswick likes this.
  4. wiscbirddog

    wiscbirddog Well-Known Member

    A magnet will tell you if it is iron.

    If it was me, I'd take the paint off.
     
    sabre123 and charlie cheswick like this.
  5. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    thanks van p, yeah i quite like him as is, looks genuine aging as well so might set him apart from the modern repros
     
    Van_Poperin likes this.
  6. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Looks genuine to me.
    I'd strip it, Acetone bath or paint stripper soak but don't wire brush it.
     
  7. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

    If you are keeping it, chemically strip that paint off. Get into the crevasses with a stiff brush. Lots of details are hiding under there. With luck it will be oxidize and you can lightly buff some highlights.

    Looks bronze to me.
     
    charlie cheswick likes this.
  8. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    :woot::woot::hilarious:;)thanks buddy, not magnetic at all, so guess not iron

    ya reckon much age ?
     
    sabre123 likes this.
  9. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    Looks like the real deal to me. Two layers of paint, at least, too.
     
    charlie cheswick likes this.
  10. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

    With luck, it will come to life.
    My bathroom door hook...
    aaa.JPG
     
    charlie cheswick likes this.
  11. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    thanks james and dave, all good advice

    i can see it appealing to 2 different crowds , one in this state, and the other cleaned up

    would be nice to see the proper details underneath though
     
  12. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    i can imagine it 'roaring' at unsuspecting guests, in a thats not your towel growl:)
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2021
  13. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    fer sure!!
    are those fangs I see?
    strip it down......and make it your own.....!!!
     
    charlie cheswick likes this.
  14. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    yeah two fangs buddy:vamp:

    the paints chipping off with just with my fingers so ill probably give it a go
     
    komokwa likes this.
  15. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    go hard.......and have fun !
     
    charlie cheswick likes this.
  16. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    Decided on a compromise, didn't want to take everything off and have it pristine looking, happy the way it is now, better I think

    $_57 - 2021-07-30T163125.749.jpg $_57 - 2021-07-30T163103.598.jpg
     
    Boland, SBSVC, sabre123 and 1 other person like this.
  17. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    Looks awesome! Pulled out some nice details.
     
    komokwa and charlie cheswick like this.
  18. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    Thanks buddy, thought I'd made a bad mistake at first when it started coming off

    But glad I did now

    It might look even better totally stripped, but I'll leave that to whoever buys it, at least now you can see what's going on, and it still looks old
     
    komokwa and Roaring20s like this.
  19. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    Looks great this way. Just the right combination. The remaining paint really creates definition
     
    sabre123 and charlie cheswick like this.
Similar Threads: lion head
Forum Title Date
Metalware Interesting Lion's Head Silver Plated Wine Cooler Mar 24, 2022
Metalware Old lion head marker Feb 27, 2022
Metalware Lion head log Holder?? Any info would be wonderful, thank you!! :) Dec 22, 2018
Metalware Unidentified medallion / logo ? Apr 9, 2023
Metalware Bronze Medallion from 1828 May 20, 2022

Share This Page