Padlock and key

André Omereler

1531 · Steel, brass, partially gilded · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Elevating less-exalted materials through expertise, celebrated locksmiths in urban centers such as Augsburg took their place beside goldsmiths and armorers. Possibly a guild showpiece or even a masterpiece produced for guild admission, this padlock boasts a beautifully coordinated mechanism designed to confound an interloper but to work with systematic clarity for those in the know. Disguised, the real keyhole is revealed when one of the shields is turned to the right, releasing two bolts, unlatching a cover inside, and causing a panel to slide upward.

Artist

André Omereler

Date

1531

Medium

Steel, brass, partially gilded

Culture

Southern German

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1957