Ironmongery

sharp object of hard metal used as a fastener

thin plate with a hole, normally used to distribute the load of a threaded fastener

attached device used to open or close a door

thumb|upright|Illustration of various examples of balusters, in A Handbook of Ornament, by Franz S. Meyer thumb|upright|The term derives from the swelling form of the half-open flower of Punica granatum, in Italian balaustra

iron alloy with a very low carbon content and with fibrous slag inclusions, worked with hammers or dies

thumb|300px|A modern handrail made of metal

item of door furniture

thumb|Lifting hook on a crane truck with a standard round hook and a gated opening A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved/bent back or has a deeply grooved indentation, which serves to grab, latch or in any way attach itself onto another object. The hook's design allows traction forces to be relayed through the curved/indented portion to and from the proximal end of the hook, which is either a straight shaft (known as the hook's shank) or a ring (sometimes called the hook's "eye") for attachment to a thread, rope or chain, p

mechanical device that closes a door in a controlled manner

thumb|An ironmonger's shop in Pickering, North Yorkshire thumb|Inside a typical ironmonger's in Soignies (Belgium) thumb|An ironmonger's shop in France, with iron goods and other consumer goods Ironmongery originally referred, first, to the manufacture of iron goods and, second, to the place of sale of such items for domestic rather than industrial use. In both contexts, the term has expanded to include items made of steel, aluminium, brass, or other metals, as well as plastics.