Clavos / Decorative Nail Heads

Old West Iron offers rustic clavos in decorative nail head sizes from 1/2" up to 2" with 3/4" long nails. We offer a variety of hand forged clavos options to meet different decorative preferences. The round clavos and square clavos are forged in fire until they are red hot and hammered textures such as ping hammered, distressed hammered or pyramid hammered are applied on an anvil. A thin nail is affixed to the back to make hammering in a breeze. Many of our clavos are historical designs like the flat clavos, which are commonly found on century old gates and doors. Some of our Spanish clavos and other unique shaped clavos are stamped or cast iron clavos. Clavos are great for indoor or outdoor applications and hold up well in weather.

Use the links below to shop by head style or by nail head size. To view all clavos please scroll below the links. Free shipping on all domestic orders over $40, we offer a price break / discount of 10% off when you order 100+

Some of the clavos available include round clavos with distressed matte black finish, premium round clavos with antique copper or oil-rubbed bronze finish, and decorative pyramid-shaped clavos with pewter or antique brass finish. There are also options for round hammered effect clavos with pewter or antique brass finish, as well as round studded style clavos with oil-rubbed bronze finish. For a more old-world style, there are clavos with bronze patina or aged/distressed look in black or oil-rubbed bronze finish. Additionally, the collection offers round clavos with lightly hammered matte black finish, timeworn round clavos with antique copper finish, and round clavos with a rope edge in oil-rubbed bronze finish. Customers can also find premium hammered iron clavos with unfinished heads. For those in search of a larger and more distinctive look, there are premium large pyramid clavos with a distressed appearance. The collection also includes various pack sizes and multi-pack sales, providing options for different quantities and budget preferences.

What is a clavo? A clavo, also call clabo or door stud is a decorative nail head originally created by the blacksmiths in the borderland areas.

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Other Metals

Bronze

Brass

Copper

What are clavos?

Clavo is a Spanish word meaning nail. They are typically a large, decorative nail head used for embellishment on various furnishing, doors, beams, mantels, etc. Also referred to as door studs, rustic nail heads, decorative nails, upholstery nails or tacks and faux bolt heads, these fasteners have many decorative uses. Clavos or decorative nail heads are frequently used as adornments to doors, cabinets, furniture, and gates. These nail heads can also be applied to wood beams as faux bolt heads to create the look of large, old fashion bolt heads. Alternatively, our clavos can be welded onto iron plates, straps and other hardware to achieve a riveted look while still being able to install with weight bearing fasteners. Our clavos have a thick, sturdy nail allowing them to be used in nearly any wood application. This nail style makes them slightly different than furniture tacks or upholstery tacks, which have a very thin, lightweight nail. When used in place of furniture or upholstery tacks, clavos give a more dramatic element to the furniture piece. When used as door studs, they offer an iron-clad look to entry ways. Clavos can be installed on new or antique furnishings to achieve a one of a kind, authentic looking piece. We also have select sizes and styles with thick, pyramidal old world style spike nails as well as traditional style nail spikes. The clavos in Old West Iron’s hardware line are made of hand-forged iron, cast iron, solid bronze, or solid copper. Our designer approved, high-quality clavos are the perfect addition to any project. We offer many hand-painted patina finishes that are rust preventative to fit any taste or design style. Our colors include but are not limited to black, oil rubbed bronze, wrought iron patina, rusty metal, aged pewter, gunmetal, and raw unfinished metal.