The silver lock, made by William Partridge circa 1665, was originally fitted to a door within ‘My Ladyes apartments’ at Chatsworth House, home of the then Earls of Devonshire.
Elizabeth Cavendish, 3rd Countess of Devonshire (1619-1689), was the mother of Anne, Countess of Exeter (1649-1703), wife of John, 5th Earl (1648-1700).
When Elizabeth died she left the entire contents of her apartments at Chatsworth to her daughter, an immense bequest of precious objects and works of art, which also included the ornate door fittings!
The bequest is recorded in the 1690 Devonshire Schedule, or Deed of Gift.
The brass lock is from a door within the staterooms at Burghley.
Made in the latter part of the 17th Century, it carries a cipher of the initials of the 5th Earl and Countess, beneath an earl’s coronet.
It is a fine illustration of the immense detail that was applied to the complete remodelling of Burghley carried out at that time.
