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Overview
Glass drawer pulls are a practical and beautiful way to accent any piece of furniture that has knobs or handles. They come in many styles and colors, and can add a significant amount of value to a piece of furniture in some cases. Whether you collect them or just want to add some sparkle to an older piece of furniture, glass drawer pulls are an easy to way to change up your decor quickly and easily.
History
Glass drawer pulls have been a luxury in cabinet hardware for literally centuries. As glass became easier to shape and mold, glass drawer pulls became more common. Now, you can buy mass produced glass drawer pulls in many shapes, sizes and colors, or you can commission custom glass drawer pulls that are actually blown and shaped individually by hand.
Function
Glass drawer pulls have two functions: to accent furniture and to make pulling out a drawer or cupboard door easier. Glass drawer pulls are generally made of an ornamental knob of glass that has a screw embedded in the back. The screw passes through the front of the drawer or cupboard and is secured by a nut on the backside of the front piece. This holds the drawer pull firmly in place so that when it is tugged upon, the entire drawer moves forward.
Types
Glass drawer pulls come in a huge variety. Some are mass manufactured and are made with molds instead of being blown or molded by hand. They also come in many different styles of glass, such as colored, clear and exotic styles like Murano or Venetian. They may be molded into shapes like seashells or animals, or simply allowed to take their own, natural shape and be globular in nature.
Seashell drawer pulls
Benefits
Glass drawer pulls are extremely popular because they enable you to customize your decor and your home without replacing or even refinishing your furniture. For example, by simply changing the knobs on your china cabinet from metal to brightly colored crystal, you can brighten up the entire room and make a traditional piece a little more eclectic. Also, glass drawer pulls can be extremely inexpensive while still being very beautiful, which makes them ideal for the decorator on a budget.
Considerations
When you are selecting glass drawer pulls, keep several things in mind. A pull needs to be large enough to fit the hand easily, but not overwhelm the drawer in question. If it is a custom shape like a frog or a turtle, make sure that it sticks out far enough from the surface of the drawer to actually be useful. Also, make sure that the screw hole fits the screw in the drawer pull securely or the pull may become loose over time.
Warning
Some antique glass drawer pulls are extremely valuable, but, as with most collectibles, only to people who collect glass drawer pulls. Make sure that if you are buying a rare glass drawer pull as an investment, that you have it appraised by an expert and that you are aware that you will probably not be able to recoup your investment unless you can find someone else who prizes that particular drawer pull as much as you do. Do not purchase this type of antique as a profit-maker unless you are extremely familiar with the market or will not mind if you end up owning the glass drawer pull permanently.
