Lock and key, Walter Bickford, England, 1650-1700

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

1650-1700

This is a rim lock, intended for the door of a private room in a royal palace or wealthy residence. Unlike later mortise locks that were built into doors, the rim lock’s mechanism is entirely enclosed in a case to be mounted to a door and easily removed if the owners travelled or moved. Their complicated mechanisms made rooms secure, while their intricate patterns in steel and brass turned locks into works of art. Even the inner steel workings are finely decorated.

Bluing steel is a complex process of heating the metal several times to oxidise its surface and create its iridescent blue colour. Achieving an even coating is highly skilled work, especially on rounded or complex shapes like armour. The lock is signed on the rim by Walter Bickford. He was one of a family of skilled locksmiths who worked for wealthy patrons. Their workshop supplied locks for Hampton Court Palace and also made strong-boxes, like the jewel casket for Queen Mary, on display in the British Galleries.

A rectangular lock with four bolts and two spring catches. On the back is a central rosette amid openwork floral scrolls with birds, squirrels, snakes and other creatures; This is surrounded on three of its sides by an ogee moulding overlaid with a pierced ornament of leaves and acorns. On the front is an oblong escutcheon with a key-hole surrounded by plaques of pierced scrollwork overlaying the mechanism of the lock. There are four staples with rosette heads and a small leaf-shaped handle at the bottom. The whole of the ornamentation is of gilt brass. The key has a baluster stem, flanged bit and open scrollwork bow.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources: 1
Photograph views: 3
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: Length: 16.2 cm; Width: 13.6 cm
Materials and techniques: Chiselled, pierced and engraved gilt brass, mounted above panels of blued steel

Technical characteristics

Maker recorded: Walter Bickford
Place recorded: England
Production note: The Bickfords were a prominent family of locksmiths who served a wealthy and aristocratic clientele. They were the royal locksmiths to William and Mary and provided several locks for Hampton Court Palace.

Identification

Candidate id: vam-O381708
Museum object number: 1-1905
Marks and inscriptions: [{'content': 'Walter Bickford', 'inscriber': {'name': {'text': '', 'id': ''}, 'association': {'text': '', 'id': ''}}, 'date': {'text': '', 'earliest': None, 'latest': None}, 'description': '', 'interpretation': '', 'language': '', 'medium': '', 'method': '', 'position': '', 'script': '', 'translation': '', 'transliteration': '', 'type': '', 'note': 'Engraved on the back'}]
Object history (museum record): Entry from register: Lock of gilt brass and blued steel, key of steel. Signed 'Walter Bickford'. Oblong, with four bolts and two spring catches. On the back is a central rosette amid openwork floral scrolls with birds, squirrels, snakes and other creatures; This is surrounded on three of its sides by an ogee moulding overlaid with a pierced ornament of leaves and acorns. On the front is an oblong escutcheon with a key-hole surrounded by plaques of pierced scrollwork overlaying the mechanism of the lock. There are four staples with rosette heads and a small leaf-shaped handle at the bottom. The whole of the ornamentation is of gilt brass. The key has a baluster stem, flanged bit and open scr
Source note: Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.