You read it here first: On Monday Feb. 13 Rejuvenation will be officially launching their new Samba doorset escutcheon. But I saws the catalog posting Friday, jumped on it and posted the first photos last night. This morning, I got these fullsize photos from the PR department, along with some additional info. According to Rejuv, the Samba is a reproduction of a doorset introduced by the Weiser Company in the latter half of the 1960s. Then, it was simply named “Modern Escutcheon.” About the design, Rejuv says, “It spotlights the dynamic dance between dramatic mid-’60s sophistication and the clean simplicity of Mid-Century Modern design.” I would call it brutalist.
Overnight I also asked Rejuvenation industrial designer Tim Wetzel for his thoughts:
This is one we really had a hard time figuring out. I disgree with Bo’s Brutalism tag, but you can be the judge. Brutalism is one of those terms that sends most people (self included) off to Google for a definition. I found this site that seems to explain Brutalism well: http://criticundertheinfluence.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/brutalism-the-word-itself-and-what-we-mean-when-we-say-it/ [Note from Pam, here is my story on Brutalist Furniture: https://retrorenovation.com/2010/10/13/brutalist-design-furniture-from-lane/]
To me Samba is all about decoration for decoration’s sake, which is 180 degrees opposite of the concepts of Brutalism. But what the Samba style is seems really tough to pin down. Maybe there is some vaguely Polynesian reference. Maybe it was just a crazy fun doodle that we are over-thinking. We still have the package it came in, but there is no clue on that as to the style – it was labeled simply “Modern”. One thing for sure- it is striking, unusual and beyond the motifs typically seen on fancy door sets.
It will be interesting to see if your readers have a name for this style, or if they can point to other items with a similar motif.
Continue on for big honkin’ photos of all the finishes — and a lovely room shot.
“At a height of 16in., the Samba comes with the Schlage Orbit locking set and everything you need for a door with a 2-3/8in. or 2-3/4in. backset, plus an optional matching deadbolt.” It comes in three finishes — polished brass, polished chromes, and brushed chrome. Looks like it is $280. If that fazes you, you can occasionally find these vintage, but be sure they fit. See this story for some additonal examples of fabulous door escutcheons found via this blog, now mostly sold.
The first reader who finds me a photo with an authentic vintage one of these wins my everlasting admiration and if I get my act together, one of my vintage Fuller Brush salesman spatulas. Link: Samba doorset from Rejuvenation.
philq says
Interesting. Screams late 1960’s abstract to me. This could have been marketed as a line of Picasso-inspired escutcheons.
bepsf says
Oh dear – My bonus is coming soon and now this staring me in the face…
…would have to get a 5″ backset tho – That’s only another $12.
And I’m loving the brass – tho that would mean replacing my Schlage electronic lock too… (Sigh)
Tami says
Wow, these are really cool. But I think I’d replace that round knob with something squarer:
http://www.homesteadhardware.com/door-knobs/emtek-modern-square-door-knob.html
pam kueber says
Thanks for the link to the square Eljer, Tami — cool!
Steve 66 says
Very cool, I agree that the square knobs would be a great match. I think it could be described as Brutalist in a decorative arts sense, not in an architectural sense. I think by the late 1960’s there was a growing interest in primitive and ethnic design, sort of a reaction against the slickness of space-age, and I think this sort of speaks to that. It definitely fits with things like the coarse textured scandinavian glassware of the time.
Angela Anderson says
Just saw this on Pinterest. I love the Brutalist style, and I agree with Steve that it has a brutalist look. I also agree about the square knob looking fabulous with it!
Yvette Williams says
Aw…that would require a new front door for me 🙁 Bolt is too close to the door knob on mine. What a fabulous look!
Ethan says
$280.00, really?? You won’t be seeing these on my front door.
At Home Modern says
I love this! At first I thought it looked like overkill until I saw the installation shot. Great find!
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Ooooooh. That makes for a tough decision. The door lock? Or Crestview Doors windows in my already paneled front door. I think both would be overkill.
Maybe I can use the door lock somewhere else.
Retrosandie says
I love it!!!! <3
Michael says
Wow– that’s fantastic! I wish it came in a black finish.
Suzanne says
LOVE!!!!