Lock, Germany, 1610
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1610
Lock and key; iron, pierced, engraved and etched. Signed by the maker 'GS'. With a mechanism as elaborate as its decoration - which includes the double-headed eagle emblem of the Emperor on the key plate. This is a typical German 'masterpiece' lock, the key-hole concealed beneath the polygonal boss. Hunting scenes on the sides, angels and foliage on the front plate and mermen on the handle of the top key.
MASTERPIECE LOCK Steel, gilded, etched, pierced and engraved Germany, dated 1610 This lock is the ‘masterpiece’ of a maker, and was submitted to the Guild of Locksmiths, to gain membership. Museum No. 2409-1856 MASTERPIECE LOCK WITH TWO KEYS Steel, gilded, etched, pierced and engraved Germany; dated 1610 The lock is signed GS, probably the intials of the maker who would have submitted the lock as his 'masterpiece' on which he would have been judged for membership of the Guild of Locksmiths. This accounts for the variety of decorative techniques used, the complexity of the mechanism and the outstanding quality of the work. Elaborate locks were often operated by two keys.
Museum No. 2409 & a-1856
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Height: 31.8 cm (lock); Width: 48.3 cm (lock); Length: 14.6 cm (key); Width: 4.4 cm (key)
- Materials and techniques
- Iron, pierced, engraved and etched
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Production note
- signed by the maker 'CS'
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O306707
- Museum object number
- 2409 to B-1856
- Marks and inscriptions
- [{'content': "'GS 1610'", 'inscriber': {'name': {'text': '', 'id': ''}, 'association': {'text': '', 'id': ''}}, 'date': {'text': '', 'earliest': None, 'latest': None}, 'description': '', 'interpretation': '', 'language': '', 'medium': '', 'method': '', 'position': '', 'script': '', 'translation': '', 'transliteration': '', 'type': '', 'note': 'Signed and dated.'}]
- Object history (museum record)
- Bought for £13 10s in 1856.
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.