The following are useful general basic reference works for specific metals and the objects made from them:
IRON/STEEL
- Campbell, M., 1997. Decorative Ironwork. V&A Publications
- D’Allemagne, H.R., 1968. Decorative Antique Ironwork: a Pictorial Treasury. Dover Publications
- Fennimore, D.L., 2004. Iron at Winterthur. Univ. Press New England
- Lindsay, Seymour., 1970. Iron and Brass Implements of the English House. Alec Tiranti (reprint of 1927 Edn)
- Lister, R., 1960. Decorative Cast Ironwork in Great Britain. G.Bell & Sons
- Malchenko, M., 1974. Art objects in steel by Tula craftsmen. Aurora Art Publishing.
- Owen, M., 1977. Antique Cast Iron. Blandford Press
- Plummer,D., 1999. Colonial Wrought Iron: the Sorber Collection. Skipjack Press
- Schiffer, P,N &H., 1979. Antique Iron: Survey of American and English Forms, Fifteenth through Nineteenth Centuries. Schiffer Publishing
- Victoria & Albert Museum, 1927 & 1930. Ironwork, Parts I & II.
BRASS/COPPER
- Callcut, V., www.oldcopper.org
- Day, J., 1973. Bristol Brass: A History of the Industry. David & Charles
- Gentle, R. & Feild, R., 1975. English Domestic Brass 1680 – 1810 and the History of its Origins. Elek Books
- Gentle, R. & Feild, R., 1994. Domestic Metalwork 1640 -1820. Antique Collectors’ Club
- Hilley, E.N., 1957. Brass Saga. Ernest Benn Ltd
- Hornsby, P., 1989. Collecting Antique Copper & Brass. Moorland Publishing
- Kauffman, H.J., 1950. Early American Copper, Tin and Brass. Medill McBride Co.
- Lindsay, Seymour., 1970. Iron and Brass Implements of the English House. Alec Tiranti (reprint of 1927 Edn)
- Pearsall, D., 2022. Collecting English Brass and Bronze Mortars. ISBN 978-1-80352-129-9. Independent Publishing Network
- Schiffer, P, N & H., 1978. The Brass Book: American, English & European, Fifteenth Century through 1850. Schiffer Publishing.
- ter Kuile, O., 1986. Koper & Brons. Staatsuitgevierij ‘s-gravenhage.
TIN
- Coffin, M., 1968. American Country Tinware 1700 – 1900. Galahad Books
- Cox, R., 1970. Victorian Tinware with Notes on a Nineteenth Century Catalogue. Stamford Properties Ltd.
- DeVoe, S. S., 1981. The Art of the Tinsmith, English & American. Schiffer Publishing.
- John, W.D. & Simcox, A., 1966. Pontypool and Usk japanned wares. Ceramic Book Co.
- John, W.D. & Simcox, A., 1964. English decorated trays. Ceramic Book Co.
PAKTONG
- Bonnin, A., 1924. Tutenag & Paktong.
- John, W.D. & Coombes, K., 1970. Paktong. Ceramic Book Co.
- Pinn, K., 1999. Paktong: the Chinese Alloy in Europe. Antique Collectors’ Club.