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Detailed shot of keys hanging in a door lock on a wooden surface, warm tones.

Antique Furniture Locks and Keys Explained

Identification GuidesDate Published
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Locks can reveal quality, function and alteration through their cases, bolts, screws and keyholes.

What to examine

Compare lock position with veneer shadows and old fixing holes. Check whether keys operate smoothly without forcing.

Avoid the common trap

A replaced lock is common and may be necessary for use. Catalogue it honestly and retain displaced original parts.

Record your findings

Photograph the whole object, the feature in context and a close-up with scale. Note what is observed separately from any conclusion.

Reliable starting points

  • [V&A collections](https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections)
  • [The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline](https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/)

Identification should combine several forms of evidence. Do not use destructive tests, and seek a specialist opinion where attribution or value matters.

Learn by looking closely

See workshop examinations and restoration details on the [Antique Repair Shop YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).