{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O308843"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O308843/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE4017/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE4017/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AE4017","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AE4034","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CR8160","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CR8163","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CR8162","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG0558","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB8433","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC4211","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O308843/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O308843","accessionNumber":"709-1904","objectType":"Lock","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This type of lock is a rim lock, with its mechanism entirely enclosed in a case to be mounted on a door. Unlike later mortise locks that were built into doors and might match the overall decorative scheme of a room, rim locks could be removed when the owner moved house, to be fixed to a door in the new house. \r\n\r\nLocks and keys were symbols of ownership and authority. Lockplates and key escutcheons, made of highly reflective materials, provided the finishing touches to decorative schemes. \r\n\r\nEnglish locksmiths were based mainly in London and the Midlands and were renowned for their ingenuity. Wolverhampton produced, according to one writer in 1686, locks ‘curiously polisht and the keys so finely wrought, that ‘tis reasonable to think they were never exceeded’.  The diarist John Evelyn recorded in 1654 that a lock with ‘rare contrivances’ could be viewed as a masterpiece, ‘esteem’d a curiositie even among foraine princes’.","physicalDescription":"Rectangular rim lock with catch of gilt brass engraved winged figures of children among foliated scrolls. The mounts and escutcheons are of cut steel work , the knob fluted and the catch decorated to match the rest of the lock. The reverse of the lock is also finely engraved with and has applied steel ornament.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Harris, Philip","id":"A29466"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28690"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[{"text":"forging","id":"AAT54033"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"},{"text":"chiselling","id":"x44578"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel, gilt brass","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"},{"text":"Interiors","id":"THES48933"},{"text":"Tools & Equipment","id":"THES48883"}],"styles":[{"text":"Baroque","id":"AAT21147"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AE4017","2006AE4034","2009CR8160","2009CR8163","2009CR8162","2025PG0558","2017KB8433","2017KC4211"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"116","id":"THES49908"},"free":"","case":"DR5","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"021","id":"THES412143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"021","id":"THES412143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Lock","id":""}],[{"text":"Escutcheon","id":""}],[{"text":"Escutcheon","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1700","earliest":"1695-01-01","latest":"1704-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"10.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"7.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"18.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"lockplate","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"20.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"with bolt housing","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"PHILIP HARRIS LONDINI FECIT","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Philip Harris made in London","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed on lower rim"}],"objectHistory":"This type of lock is a rim lock, with its mechanism entirely enclosed in a case to be mounted on a door. Unlike later mortise locks that were built into doors and might match the overall decorative scheme of a room, rim locks could be removed when the owner moved house, to be fixed to a door in the new house. The bold proportions and engraved ornament are unmistakeably Baroque and would complement contemporary decoration in the house without matching exactly. On this example, even the inner workings are finely decorated.\r\n\r\nThe Museum bought this lock for £30 in 1904.","historicalContext":"Locks and keys were symbols of ownership and authority. Lockplates and key escutcheons, made of highly reflective materials, provided the finishing touches to decorative schemes. \r\n\r\nEnglish locksmiths were based mainly in London and the Midlands and were renowned for their ingenuity. Wolverhampton produced, according to one writer in 1686, locks ‘curiously polisht and the keys so finely wrought, that ‘tis reasonable to think they were never exceeded’. \r\n\r\nThe complicated mechanisms of locks made rooms secure while their intricate patterns in steel and brass turned their locks into works of art. The diarist John Evelyn recorded in 1654 that a lock with ‘rare contrivances’ could be viewed as a masterpiece, ‘esteem’d a curiositie even among foraine princes’.","briefDescription":"Rim lock of gilt brass with a steel mechanism, London, ca 1700, signed by Philip Harris","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Rupert Gentle and Rachael Feild, <u>Domestic Metalwork 1640-1820</u>, Antique Collectors Club, 1998, p. 387"}],"production":"Signed by the maker","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"children (people by age group)","id":"AAT25945"},{"text":"scroll-work","id":"AAT10205"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"LOCK\r\nEngraved brass, applied steelwork ornaments\r\nLondon, England; about 1700 \r\nMade by Philip Harris and signed in Latin 'Philip Harris of London made this'\r\n\r\nEnglish locksmiths were renowned for their ingenuity. Their complicated mechanisms made rooms secure while their intricate patterns in steel and brass turned their locks into works of art. This example is a rim lock, with its mechanism entirely enclosed in a case to be mounted on a door. Even the inner steel workings are finely engraved.\r\n\r\nMuseum no. 709A&B-1904","date":{"text":"November 2004","earliest":"2004-11-01","latest":"2004-11-30"}}],"partNumbers":["709-1904","709A-1904","709B-1904"],"accessionNumberNum":"709","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1904,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Lock","Escutcheon [1]","Escutcheon [2]"],"assets":["2016JE8975","2019LN0901","2019LP5051","2019LU2400"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-16","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}