{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O380831"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O380831/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR8734/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR8734/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CR8734","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CR8733","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CR8157","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB8439","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O380831/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O380831","accessionNumber":"5403-1859","objectType":"Hinge plate","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The intricate lock has four turning bolts that can be set to various combinations. For added security, a sliding panel reveals two dials to record every turn of the lock.\r\n\r\nThis 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 hinge plates (this and 5405-1859) of pierced and engraved brass on a blued steel base, the brass in the form of twirling tendrils with leaves, tulips and sunflowers. The narrower hinged sections are engraved with leaves and vines (possibly later). The hinges are are fixed with a turned steel baluster rod.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"John Wilkes","id":"A8991"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28690"},"note":"possibly"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[{"text":"forging","id":"AAT54033"},{"text":"piercing","id":"AAT231153"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel, brass, forged and chiselled, blued","categories":[{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"},{"text":"Interiors","id":"THES48933"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tools & Equipment","id":"THES48883"},{"text":"Ironwork","id":"THES251837"}],"styles":[{"text":"Baroque","id":"AAT21147"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2009CR8734","2009CR8733","2009CR8157","2017KB8439"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"114C (VA)","id":"THES49912"},"free":"","case":"17","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Hinge plate","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Birmingham","id":"x28748"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1680-1710","earliest":"1680-01-01","latest":"1710-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"5404-1859","id":"O322583"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"5405-1859","id":"O380844"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"207-1879","id":"O380102"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"1394-1888","id":"O350453"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"27.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"13.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Pierced brass plate","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This lock has open scrollwork in brass contrasting with a ‘blued’ steel base. The lock has four turning bolts. For added security, a sliding panel reveals two dials to record every turn of the lock.\r\n\r\nThis 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 twirling ornament are unmistakeably Baroque and would complement contemporary decoration in the house without matching exactly. On this example, even the inner steel workings are finely engraved.\r\n\r\nThe Museum acquired the lock for £15.15 from the Londesborough Sale in 1888.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Hinge plate of pierced brass on a blued steel base, decorated with vines, tulips and sunflowers, England, Birmingham, ca. 1680, possibly by John Wilkes (pair with 5404-1859)","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Rupert Gentle and Rachael Feild, <u>Domestic Metalwork 1640-1820</u>, Antique Collectors Club, 1998, p. 386"}],"production":"Based on similar signed locks of the period","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>LOCK AND KEY</b>\r\nEngraved and pierced brass and blued steel, \r\nEngland, c. 1680\r\n\r\nPossibly made by John Wilkes. The lock has four turning bolts that can be set to various combinations, and a sliding panel that covers two dials to record every turn of the lock.\r\n\r\nMuseum No. 5403-1859","date":{"text":"07/2025","earliest":"2025-07-01","latest":"2025-07-31"}},{"text":"LOCK AND HINGE\r\nBrass and steel\r\nEngland; late 17th century.\r\nmade by  John Wilkes of Birmingham (d. 1733)\r\n5403 and 5405-1859\r\n\r\nEngraved brass, with openwork over a steel plate. Signed, IOHANNES WILKES DE BIRMINGHAM FECIT. See 207-1879","date":{"text":"07/1994","earliest":"1994-07-01","latest":"1994-07-31"}}],"partNumbers":["5403-1859"],"accessionNumberNum":"5403","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1859,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-21","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}