Large Antique Iron Padlock with Lion Motif Keyhole Cover South Asia, c. 1800–1850

Large Antique Iron Padlock with Lion Motif Keyhole Cover

South Asia, c. 1800–1850

Forged in iron and shaped by hand, this substantial antique padlock embodies an earlier age of security—one in which strength, symbolism, and craftsmanship were inseparable. The lock is of traditional South Asian form, its heavy plates joined by pronounced domed rivets and secured by a thick, circular shackle, all bearing the quiet irregularities of hand workmanship.

At the center lies its most striking feature: a lion-motif keyhole cover, engraved on an applied brass or bronze plate. In South Asian visual culture, the lion has long served as a symbol of protection, authority, and guardianship. Here, it functions both practically—shielding the keyway from dust—and symbolically, standing as a silent guardian over whatever lay behind the lock.

Locks of this type were typically used on strong chests, temple storerooms, merchant goods, or estate valuables, where security extended beyond mere function to include visual deterrence and symbolic assurance. The absence of maker’s marks or inscriptions is consistent with vernacular workshop production, where such objects were valued for durability and meaning rather than attribution.

The lock operates on a traditional warded mechanism, and the original large iron key survives—a notable and increasingly uncommon accompaniment. The surface retains a stable, undisturbed patina, the result of long use and age, with no evidence of modern restoration or alteration.

With a solid weight of approximately 645 grams, the lock has a reassuring heft in hand and a strong sculptural presence. It reads as both a functional artifact and a compelling object for display, equally suited to a study, library, or curated interior.

Details:

• Material: Hand-forged wrought iron with applied brass/bronze keyhole cover
• Lock type: Warded
• Motif: Lion (protective symbolism)
• Dimensions: approx. 10.5 × 6.5 × 2.5 cm
• Weight: approx. 645 g
• Condition: Original, unrestored, with age-appropriate wear
• Includes: Original matching iron key

An evocative survival from the late 18th to mid-19th century, this lock stands as a tangible reminder of how security was once expressed through both strength and symbol.