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Ulf Weissenberger

Antique Locks and Keys

Their History, Uses and Mechanisms


Early History

Neolithic

5500 to 2000 B.C.

Bronze Age

2000 to 800 B.C.

5000 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500

Sumerians

3500 to 2000 B.C.

City States

2000 to 1000 B.C.

Assyrians

1700 to 610 B.C.

Iron is First Smelted in Pit Ovens

From Hunter to Farmer

First Depictions of a Key

5000 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500

1


Iron Age

800 to 0 B.C.

Roman Imperial Period

o to 370 A.D.

Middle Ages

500 to 1500 A.D.

1000 500 B.C. 0 500 A.D. 1000

Greeks

800 to 27 B.C.

Merovingians

420 to 750

Carolingians

750 to 900

Romans

750 B.C. 370 A.D.

Celts

650 to 50 B.C.

Germanic People

420 to 900

Etruscans

1700 to 200 B.C.

Illyrians

450 to 170 B.C.

Wind Oven

Stucco Oven

First Bronze Keys

First Iron Keys

1000 500 B.C. 0 500 A.D. 1000

2


1

Ancient History

The Evolution of Locking Mechanisms

According to the most recent studies, the origin of locks and keys dates back to around 2800

B.C., as testified by Akkadian cylinder seals found in modern day Iraq dating from 2300 B.C.

There are also representations of ancient Egyptian keys from about 1400 B.C. In this context,

it's interesting to note that the Neolithic age ended in 2000 B.C. and the first Iron Age ended

in 400 B.C. The Bronze Age ended around the year 1050 B.C.

Ancient Texts

Textual and linguistic research of Babylonian

Empire writings (1850 B.C. – 1550 B.C.) reveal, as

stated by philologist Onofrio Carruba, that locks

were already quite common at that time. The

following terms were used in that period:

Sikuru: Bolt

Secru: Closed off

Sekretu: Lockmaker

Wrought Iron

Archeology shows that iron objects were common

among the Egyptians and the Greeks in 1200 B.C.

Around 700 B.C. ironworking was widespread

among the Etruscans and the Raeti (aka Rhaeti)

in northern Italy. It’s interesting to point out that

it is impossible to demonstrate the existence of

keys among the Etruscan population. At the time,

northern Europe was behind in ironmaking. Only

after the year 300 A.D. things started to change in

this respect (see Iron Smelting, page 32).

Homer

The Greek poet Homer refers more than once to

locks and keys in his works (800-750 B.C.). In "The

Odyssey" he describes the opening of a Greek lock

used to guard a temple door. He also describes how

Penelope took the bow that she gave to Ulysses

(aka Odysseus) from the treasure room that was

well locked and explains in detail the process of

unlocking the door.

In the book of Isaiah, the key is described as a

symbol of power and dignity. This same symbolism

can be found in Akkadian sigils (the God

Schamach) in Mesopotamia, in the representations

of Kronos (aka Cronus) in Greece, of Anubis in

Egypt, and in those of St. Peter with Christians. The

symbolism of the key was depicted in many ways

until the end of the XVIII century (see The Symbolic

Power of the Key, page 260).

8

8


Wooden door with

external sliding

bolt. Swampland

settlements of

Wetzikon-Robenhausen

(Switzerland). Now at

the National Museum of

Zurich.

9


The Birth of Locking Mechanisms

Many archeological sites have revealed that the first known type of locking mechanism

was nothing more than a deep hole covered with a heavy slab of rock. The next advance

was an external sliding bolt (see page 9). This simple mechanism was used in the Neolithic

and is still used today in virtually every culture and can be found in every imaginable

variation. The final advance was the development of locking mechanisms that used a

removable object in order for the lock to be opened - namely, the key.

The Pin Tumbler Lock – a Lock with a Key.

This lock, found in Sargon's Palace in modern

day Iraq, can be considered one of the oldest,

if not the oldest existing lock in the world.

Throughout the centuries many variants of this

lock have been built and are still used today

in a few remote regions of the world. Another

type of lock that falls into this category is the

kind operated by an anchor shaped key like the

one described on page 22. Pin tumbler locks

also served as the model on which the design

of the Yale cylinder lock was based at the

beginning of the XIX century.

10


Pin Tumbler Lock with a Lift and

Slide key.

This type of lock was used in

Mesopotamia around 2600 B.C.

Representations of the god

Shamash holding a key were

found on Akkadian cylinder

seals. The oldest original lock

specimen comes from Sargon's

Palace (Iraq) and is dated 750

B.C. In ancient Greece, this type

of lock found widespread use

among the population and made

its way through Egypt up to the

Celtic territories during the Greek

colonization period.

Pin tumbler lock with a lift and

slide key; locking mechanism used

since 2600 B.C. in Mesopotamia.

0123 a

A pin tumbler lock with a

pegged key.

Period: circa 800 B.C.

Pin Tumbler Lock with Pegged

Key.

This version of the pin tumbler

lock was developed in ancient

Greece for widespread use. In

certain European regions, similar

locks were manufactured up until

the XVIII century. Wooden pins

would fit into notches carved in

the bolt, preventing the bolt from

sliding. Lifting these pins with

a pegged key would unlock the

bolt.

0123 b

Open position.

11


Here are a few comments on

the locks and keys mentioned

so far: all keys that have a long

stem, such as the Sanzeno key,

the sickle keys or hooked keys

and other similar specimens

were mostly used for rotatory

movements or lifting-rotatory

movements.

[Note: the use of a wooden lever

was common in ancient times.

The wooden lever was a round

piece of wood as wide as a hand.

This was inserted through the

bow and would add torque to

the rotatory movement. All keys

with short stems would be used

as slide keys.]

All locking mechanisms where

the key is inserted in the side,

such as the warded keys on page

11, or turn keys, were mainly

operated from the inside. You

had to then exit from another

side of the house. Another

possible variation is the one

discussed on page 11, but this is

not documented.

The teeth of the Sanzeno key enter the slots in the bolt.

0173

20


0173

Reconstruction of a lock that

employs a Sanzeno key.

21


Restoration

Doing serious restoration is like taking a long walk on a tightrope. It requires experience

and finesse. It goes without saying that anyone who restores in this specialized field has to

have all-around skills. The restorer should be able to do the following to some extent: clean,

preserve, braze copper and brass, blue, and forge. In addition, some types of decorative skills

should be known.

This is an example of bright polished

parts over a darkened background

40


Concerning antique locks, two categories of

restorers can be mentioned:

1. Professional Restorers:

Mostly excellent craftsmen who work for

museums and collectors.

2. Collectors:

They restore their objects for themselves. The

philosophy of collecting divides this group into:

a) collectors who only clean their objects

superficially, possibly conserve them and then

leave them as they are in order to preserve the

cultural-historical condition they were found

in as long as possible.

b) collectors who try to clean, conserve and

mechanically restore an object (I belong to this

group).

I cannot and will not give advice to the first

group. To the second group, if they do not

already have experience, I would like to say

the following:

In principle, it is important to ensure that the

cultural and historical value is maintained or

improved. It is important that functionality is

maintained or is restored.

Many try to achieve the original shine of the

object, but this usually has to do with modifying

the lock or its surface, and usually results in

failure. To restore the original character, that is, to

restore the original appearance without losing any

historical and cultural value, is my personal aim.

The example below is intended to show what I

mean by this. This lock’s base plate was visibly

blackened in some spots. The parts attached (to

the base plate) were bright and parts of the surface

were probably polished. Therefore, I attempted

to restore the original character (bright parts on

black background). The parts were not polished

though.

Before restoration

After restoration

41


In the center of the beautiful

faceplate decoration is a round

vertical bar with studs.

0853

Cabinet lock with two spring bolts. The faceplate

decoration was cut and chased. A beautifully shaped

elegant ornament is riveted around the keyhole. The

bolts are operated by two bent springs with levers. This

is the typical style of the late Gothic period. Ornate ward

box. The key is missing.

Size: 18.5 cm x 17 cm.

Period: Gothic, circa 1500.

Origin: Central Switzerland.

References:

Pessiot M.; p. 90 / Pankhofer H.; p. 46

0889

Late Gothic cabinet lock with two spring bolts. The lock

plate has riveted decorative trim ending in a dragon's

head. A V-spring acts on the bolts via a lever. The lever's

rivets, covered by a rosette, extend as decorative rims

in the form of an acanthus leaf. In addition, the inside

of the octagonal ward box is completely intact and its

copper soldering is exceptional.

Size: 20 cm x 13 cm.

Period: Late Gothic, circa 1520.

Origin: Hesse, Germany.

Reference:

Prochnow D.; p. 108

80


5212

Split pin key with small

clamp. Forged from one piece.

Bit with a bridge ward and

ring ward cuts. The small

tooth behind the bit is for a

second tumbler behind the

lock plate.

Length: 21.5 cm.

Period: 16th century.

Origin: Western Switzerland.

5251

Hollow key forged from one

piece. Bit with cross-shaped

clefts for ring and pin wards.

Length: 31 cm.

Period: 15th–16th century.

Origin: Allgäu region, southern

Germany.

Reference:

Hoffmann B.; pp. 140, 144

81


The claw latches are operated

by a lever.

0314

Chest lock with two lateral latches and

V-spring. The lock case is trapezoidal in

shape. Ward box is missing.

Size: 23 cm x 26 cm.

Key: Missing.

Period: Late Gothic, circa 1550.

Origin: Austria.

References:

Mandel G.; p. 56 / Görig M. (2006); pp. 109, 149

0301

Chest lock with claw latches. Engraved

decorations inside the lock box function

as bolt guides. Two bent springs press

on the latches from the sides.

Size: 21 cm x 25 cm.

Key: Hollow key, cast copy.

Period: Late Gothic, circa 1550.

Origin: Switzerland.

References:

Mandel G.; p. 56 / Görig M. (2006); p. 109, 149

86


0810

Spring lock with two bolts in classic late

Gothic shape and two springs. The top

spring is spiral shaped. The bolt guides

are fastened by ball head rivets. This

could also have been used as a chest

lock because the faceplate is not bent at

right angles. Spring construction typical

of the time.

Size: 16 cm x 13.5 cm.

Key: Hollow key from the time, slightly

modified bit.

Period: Late Gothic, circa 1560.

Origin: Tyrol or Bavaria.

References:

Canz S. (1977); p. 46 / Pankhofer H.; p. 70 /

Dorigatti B. Collection, Südtirol

0521

Door lock with two spring operated

bolts and internal pull handle. Two bent

springs. This design is typical of the

eastern Alpine region, see page 83.

Size: 32 cm x 24 cm.

Key: Hollow key from the period,

reconstructed bit.

Period: Early Renaissance, circa 1560.

Origin: South Tyrol, Austria.

Reference:

Raffaelli U. ; p. 163 / Görig M. (2006); p. 128, 130 /

Collection:

Dorigatti B. Collection, Südtirol

0508

Door lock with two spring operated

bolts and internal pull handle. Two bent

springs and a lever. The escutcheon, the

riveted decoration and part of the key

are original. The spring construction is

typical of the Gothic period, see page

83.

Size: 36 cm x 29 cm.

Key: Hollow key with original bit.

Period: Early Renaissance, circa 1540.

Origin: Tyrol, upper Austria.

References:

Heintschel H.; p. 75 / Raffaelli U. ; p. 163 /

Görig M. (2006); pp. 130, 131

87


0354

Chest lock with two lateral spring

operated latches. A V-spring in the

middle. The lower crossbar presses

on the latches via a lever. The rivet

heads are decorated with rosettes.

The faceplate decoration was cut and

engraved. The lower part of the latch

guide ends in a beautiful animal head

with a copper tongue to ward off evil

spirits. On the left and right, the levermoving

part continues as decorative

trim. On the top of the ward box is a

punched rosette.

Size: 19 cm x 24 cm.

Key: Original hollow key.

Period: Late Gothic, circa 1540.

Origin: The Nuremberg, Augsburg,

Wurzburg area, southern Germany.

References:

Canz S.. (1992); pp. 77, 85, 88 / Raffaelli U.; p. 196 /

Dorigatti B. Collection, Südtirol

100

100


From both a technical

and a creative standpoint,

this lock was constructed

according to the Moorish-

Spanish Gothic tradition

of the 15th century. Since

this lock was made at least

100 years later, it is likely

that this work made in the

Nuremberg, Augsburg,

Würzburg area was

influenced by that period.

101

101


Typical Rennaissance hollow

key shaft made from rounded

layers of forged iron sheets

brazed with copper.

0815

Cabinet lock with two bolts. Two springs act on

the bolts. These may have originally been torsion

springs. The trefoil base plate and cover are richly

engraved with grotesques and vines. The spaces

in between have been blackened. The bolt guide's

mounting bracket was punched and engraved.

Size: 25 cm x 14 cm.

Key: Original hollow key.

Period: Early Renaissance, circa 1580.

Origin: The Nuremberg, Augsburg, Wurzburg

area, southern Germany.

References:

Mandel G.; p. 108 / Görig M. (2006); p. 115 / Grotesque from Kastner O.; p. 63

106


0507

Door lock with two spring operated bolts and

internal pull handle. The spring cover and the

rear bolt guide mounting bracket were shaped as

acanthus leaves. Old repairs are clearly visible.

Size: 37 cm x 20 cm.

Key: Original hollow key, but not necessarily from

this lock.

Period: Renaissance, circa 1580.

Origin: Austria, Tyrol (Tobadill).

0505

Spring lock with internal pull handle and springloaded

bolt stop. One lifting latch and one spring

loaded bolt. External and internal lever handle

present. One torsion spring with a lever for

throwing the bolt. One bent spring for the lifting

latch.

Size: 31 cm x 17 cm.

Key: Original hollow key.

Period: Renaissance, circa 1580.

Origin: Allgäu region, southern Germany.

Reference:

Görig M. (2006); pp. 130, 136, 137

107


An asymmetrical tinned escutcheon

belongs to this lock. The lock

comes from the former Carl Kiefer

Collection, Munich, Germany.

0529

Door lock with one spring bolt and one lifting

latch. A bolt stop forged to resemble a spiral. Inner

and outer handles are cut, curled and punched in

Renaissance style. Trefoil lock case. The cut and

punched decorative plate is underlaid with red

leather. Three grotesques are present. Since there

is no protruding base plate, there are 5 lily-shaped

fasteners. The three large decorative nails (above)

are original. All parts have original tinning.

Size: 28 cm x 22.5 cm.

Key: Original hollow key.

Period: Renaissance, circa 1610.

Origin: Franconia, southern Germany.

The lock mechanism is mounted

within the lock case cover.

Reference:

Kahsnitz R.; pp. 29, 31

0813

Cabinet lock with two spring bolts. The closed,

trefoil lock case is covered with a tinned

decorative plate and engraved with arabesques

and grotesques. The ward box and the lock plate

are engraved with grotesques. The bolt guide

mounting brackets are also engraved with dots

and flecks. The base plate is cut and engraved and

also features a small grotesque.

Size: 29 cm x 14 cm.

Key: Hollow key, reconstructed bit.

Period: Renaissance, circa 1615.

Origin: Franconia, southern Germany.

References:

Kastner O.; p. 63 / Görig M. (2006); p. 161

130


Hollow and pin keys for locks with an additional tumbler

behind the lock plate (like No. 509 and 510, or No. 126).

Size: 24 cm.

Origin: Southern Germany.

131


Stylistic Periods

Middle Ages

500 to 1500 A.D.

1000 1100 1200 1300 1400

Romanesque Period

Germany 1000-1250

France 1000-115

Italy 1000-1250

Gothic Period

Germany 1250 - 1525

France 1150 - 1500

Italy 1250 - 1425

Utilization of Hydropower

First Hammer Mills

1000 1100 1200 1300 1400

3


Modern Era

from 1500

1500 1600 1700 1800 1850

The Renaissance

Germany 1525 - 1635

France 1500 - 1625

Italy 1425 - 1575

Baroque Period

Germany 1635 - 1730

France 1625 - 1650

Italy 1575 - 1730

Neoclassical Period

Germany 1750 - 1830

France 1750 - 1830

Italy 1720 - 1830

Rococo

Blast Furnace

1500 1600 1700 1800 1850

4


This is probably the most beautiful (and largest) book on locks and keys ever published. Not

only are there hundreds of stunning high-resolution photos of European locks and keys from

Roman times through the Industrial Revolution, all with dates, dimensions, and provenance,

but the detailed photos and the author’s notes also allow us to examine and understand

the workings of the locks’ internal mechanisms. Author Ulf Weissenberger’s tour de force

covers the history of locks and keys, how their mechanisms developed over the centuries,

and how each major art period affected their shape and decoration. The author also presents

his personal ideas on the restoration of antique locks and keys. Ulf Weissenberger has been

collecting and restoring with passion and attention to detail for over 35 years. In this book

he gives us impressive insights into almost 5000 years of cultural, technological, and artistic

history and, almost incidentally, answers the question of how naturally locks and keys have

been part of our lives for millennia.

$58.95

ISBN 978-0-9979798-9-3

55895>

9 780997 979893

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