John Wilkes Birmingham Cavalier Detector Lock example, auctioned 2023

Huw Eastwood

Just seen that an example of the iconic ‘Cavalier’ detector lock was auctioned in October 2023, with a final hammer price of £7,000 GBP. It had a pre-sale estimate of £7-10k, although presumably the estimates and the final price was plus the usual premiums/taxes etc.
I wont add pictures as all are copyrighted to the relevant auction houses (Tennant’s & Sotheby’s)and, the locks have featured in just about every book and collector’s publication out there.

Many will be familiar with them- the classic iron and brass rim lock with the cavalier’s leg raising to reveal the keyhole and his staff acting as a pointer on the counter dial. Moving his hat locks the outer knob. Wilkes’ original lock i think was attributed to around 1680- classic early example of the lock makers art.

Doug MacQueen

I was unaware that copies of that lock have been made, but then again it is so unique in its design I am not surprised it was copied. Sure wish I had a spare $10,000 around as I would be the current owner.

Richard Phillips

Doug MacQueen wrote
I was unaware that copies of that lock have been made, but then again it is so unique in its design I am not surprised it was copied. Sure wish I had a spare $10,000 around as I would be the current owner.

Last complete one sold 1999 for hammer price £25,000; then add tax and fees, about another quarter of the hammer price. (Just seen Huw’s post; didn’t see that one, but I don’t follow auctions closely.)

A butchered lock, with the mechanism removed and replaced with a Bramah mechanism, sold more recently, from memory c£5K.

They were probably made during a period of years. Wilkes’ workshop was also producing several other beautiful steel-and-brass locks, hinges, and other door furniture. Several others of his products are in the V&A. Rich Royalists were now safe to rebuild/extend their houses and show their royalist sympathies after 1688. Also, production of good brass in Britain increaxsed about that time, and sand-casting techniques were also improving.

[unknown]

Richard Phillips

A previous post used the word ‘copy’. John Wilkes’ shop produced a large amount of door furniture over a period of years. Several other beautifully decorated locks, and some matching hinges were among his products. It seems about a score of Cavalier locks were made, probably over the course of a couple of decades. Most carried a doggeral verse with the word ‘Master’, at least one says ‘Mistress’, and at least one has no verse.