Reviving Lutyens' Legacy at Folly Farm with British Craftsmanship

We feel honoured to have been selected for the door ironmongery at the renovation of Folly Farm in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, designed by the great architect Edwin Lutyens.

Originally built in 1650 as a modest timber-frame cottage, the owners commissioned Lutyens in 1905 to design the Dutch façade in his popular reinvention of the restrained Classical style of the William and Mary period, for which Lutyens is said to have coined the term ‘Wrenaissance’! - a characteristic Lutyens pun, to emphasise his debt to Sir Christopher Wren.

Gertrude Jekyll was employed to design the gardens, which comprised a number of ‘rooms’ (divided by hedges), including the famous sunken-pool garden based on a classic Indian board game, a flower parterre, and a Dutch canal.

These cushioned mortice knobs formed part of this careful restoration, bringing back to life Lutyens’ distinctive style of spherical curves in brass. Manufactured less than 40 miles from Folly Farm in our own factory, this is a testament to the benefits of British manufacturing - synonymous with design, quality, and of course, reducing the product’s carbon footprint due to shorter transportation distances.

As one of Britain’s pre-eminent designers, Lutyens had a flair for drawing, having taught himself by a simple self-devised method: he would take with him on all his walks a small pane of clear glass, a penknife, and some pieces of soap sharpened to fine points. He would look at some portion of a building through the glass and trace what he saw with the soap. Cleaned with a damp rag, this ‘sketchbook’ would serve him over and over again. Lutyens was to remain a prolific sketcher and draughtsman throughout his life. After his death, some 80,000 drawings were recovered from his office - about 70% for buildings never built. Over, say, a 50-year career, 80,000 drawings amounts to between four and five per day.

Door Handles Born of Brass and Ancient Amber

With a desire to craft some of the world’s most inspirational door handles, Robertson’s design team was inspired to create the perfect blend of brass and an organic gemstone.

Amber is a beautiful, translucent material prized for its rich golden hues and subtle, lustrous sheen. Although often referred to as a gemstone, amber is neither a mineral nor a stone - it is fossilised tree resin that has hardened over thousands of years, sometimes preserving ancient plant matter or other natural inclusions, offering a fascinating glimpse into our planet’s primordial past.

The most famous creation ever made from amber is arguably the Amber Room - a magnificent interior commissioned by King Friedrich I and originally installed in the Berlin City Palace. It was later gifted to the Russian Tsar Peter the Great and reinstalled in the Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg. Tragically, it was lost during World War II and has never been recovered, its disappearance only adding to the intrigue surrounding this extraordinary material.

Like all the natural materials we work with, Robertson’s use of amber tells a compelling story - one shaped by time, brought to life through craft, and elevated by design.

Unique Door Hardware for GAIA, Mayfair

Robertson's specialism in creating “bespoke out of the ordinary” came into full bloom after being tasked with manufacturing unique door hardware for one of London’s most highly sought-after postcodes in Mayfair.

Established by renowned chef Izu Ani, GAIA is a refined taverna named after the Greek Goddess of Earth (the mother of the sun, mountains and the sea) bringing a taste of the Med to the heart of the City. The restaurant follows on from venues in Monte-Carlo, Doha and Dubai.

Using juxtaposed textures, these bespoke entrance pull handles are defined by intricate detailing that references the curves of the Mediterranean waves coupled with the hand hammered three dimensional face replicating rippled sand. It was then finished in polished chrome to shimmer like the glaring August Greek sun!

Door Hardware Restoration for Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, City of London

Visitors to the Inner Temple, are unable to miss the ubiquitous silver plated symbol of the Pegasus, and so the meticulous process of repairing and preserving this historical collection of hardware to restore its original appearance and function was crucial.

Firstly we assess the condition of the hardware through a detailed examination that identifies issues such as corrosion, structural damage, and previous repairs. This involves visual inspection, magnification, and sometimes advanced techniques like X-rays or chemical analysis. This careful assessment is critical for preserving the object’s integrity, historical value, and aesthetic appeal ensuring it can be appreciated by future generations.

By understanding the extent of wear and damage, Robertson develop a tailored restoration plan, ensuring appropriate methods and materials are used.