Accession Number

983.594

Alternate Name

doorplate; door handle

Description

One tall and narrow brass doorplate. The plate is bordered along the sides with repouseed undulating branches. At the top of the plate is a repouseed beaver perched on a branch with maple leaves behind it. The long cast handle is in the form of a tree branch. Above the handle is a more modern cylinder lock assembly.

History of Use

This escutcheon was donated to The Castle Society in the summer of 1973. In a letter to Castle Society President James K. Nesbitt, donor Frank L. Rogers stated:

"It was reportedly from the original Dunsmuir home in James Bay (or the Castle itself later??)". 

Minutes of the Castle Society's November 20th, 1973 meeting state that the doorplate had recently been attached to the door in the garden entrance at Craigdarroch, and that it had been was said to have once been at 'Fairview', the home of Robert and Joan Dunsmuir in Victoria from 1883-1890. Mr. Nesbitt, with the donor, placed the doorplate against the inside garden entrance door and they said it matched perfectly a pressure outline on the door and the screw holes.

The above information corroborates part the story reported by the donor. The doorplate's history of Dunsmuir use at Craigdarroch was thus confirmed. Its history of use at Fairview is unproven.

Date

circa 1890

Material

Metal, brass

Technique

Cut; Engraved; Repoussed; Cast