Antique Chinese Cylinder Padlock

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by 15Stiftgasse, Jan 28, 2020.

  1. 15Stiftgasse

    15Stiftgasse Well-Known Member

    Hello Everyone!

    I recently acquired an old (hopefully!) Chinese cylinder padlock - as per the attached pics, and would be very grateful if any of the experts amongst you could help with the following questions . -

    a) Any idea as to how old this padlock might be ? I'm no expert, although I would personally have guessed at around end C19th (???).

    b) How scarce are such padlocks as these ?


    and

    c) Are such padlocks as these collected, and how much might one have to pay in, say, an antique shop for such an item ?

    Much obliged for you help.

    Best Regards,

    Peter
    P1020531.JPG P1020542.JPG P1020536.JPG
     
    KikoBlueEyes likes this.
  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Welcome back Stiftgasse.
    The problem with Chinese locks is that they are still being mass produced today. And given an 'antique' finish.
    The mechanism looks quite modern, do the cylinders turn, or is there a key?
     
  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    we just saw another of these with a strange key...

    a furniture lock....

    upload_2020-1-28_12-34-53.jpeg

    upload_2020-1-28_12-39-49.jpeg

    upload_2020-1-28_12-42-29.jpeg
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  4. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    I'll say that yours doesn't look like a new import.....
     
  5. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Yes, furniture, boxes, etc.
    I think OP's could have that 'tooth' key too, but we are looking at the side of it. The photos are pretty dark too.

    I can't imagine the password system with turning cylinders is very old.
     
    komokwa likes this.
  6. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    it looks like the flowers cap both ends......but ya......dark and blurry pics make it hard on us to be ....at our best !!! ;);):p
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  7. 15Stiftgasse

    15Stiftgasse Well-Known Member

    P1020549.JPG P1020550.JPG P1020547.JPG P1020548.JPG Hello Folks,

    Many thanks for taking the time to read my post and for the various replies. I'm downloading some better pics (with flash) which might be of more use in your deliberations.
    In the meantime, I have found a (US?) website called gatreasures.com, which has a section on Chinese padlocks and show samples of similar antique chinese cylinder locks on display at the Hans Schell Lock Museum in Graz, Austria.
    Apologies, again, for the substandard pics !

    Best Regards,
    Peter
     
    komokwa and Any Jewelry like this.
  8. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Thanks, Peter, that looks so much better. Yes, that looks like genuine aging and wear, nice. I will check out the website.
     
    komokwa likes this.
  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Ahhhhhhhhhh Peter !!!
    Now we're cooking with gas !!!
    I think I can say with high confidence that this is not a new import...
    but it is beyond my purview to offer anything more substantial at this point.

    I hope the museum site can give you an idea of it's age.
    As for scarce.....they made lots of em....
    As for value....you'll have to find similar items sold in the last few years.....
    or...price it as you see fit ,to be comfortable with !
     
    kyratango and Any Jewelry like this.
  10. 15Stiftgasse

    15Stiftgasse Well-Known Member

    Many, many thanks !!! Good news !
     
    kyratango and Any Jewelry like this.
  11. Shangas

    Shangas Underage Antiques Collector and Historian

    They still make bar-locks like this. My cousin's got two of them on her front door. I mean, they're cool, but the vast majority are reproductions. That doesn't mean you can't use them - they're great for what they have to do - but they're not antiques.
     
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