{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78423"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78423/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM2699/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM2699/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM2699","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM2700","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB4956","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB6448","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78423/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78423","accessionNumber":"M.109-1926","objectType":"Detector lock","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This 'detector' lock shows how many times a door had been unlocked by means of a numbered dial set to the right of the clock.  The figure of a man holds a pointer against the dial.  Each time the key is turned in the lock, the engraved dials rotates and the pointer indicates a  number. The key-hole is concealed by the man's front leg, which operates on a pivot. When a button is pressed, the leg swings forward to reveal the keyhole. The door-bolt is released by tilting the man's hat.<br><br><b>Use</b><br>Such a lock would have been fitted to the door of a private closet, where important business took place.<br><br><b>Inscription</b><br>The front of the lock is engraved with the verse:<br><br>If I had ye gift of tongue<br>I would declare and do no wrong<br>Who ye are ye come by stealth<br>To impare my Master's wealth.","physicalDescription":"Detector lock made of brass and engraved steel with a cast steel key. Signed IOHANNES WILKES FECIT DE BIRMINGHAM and inscribed: 'IF I HAD YE GIFT OF TONGUE | I WOULD DECLARE AND DO NO WRONG | WHO YE ARE YT COME BY STEALTH | TO IMPARE MY MASTER'S WELTH'. A secret catch swings the man's leg forward to reveal the keyhole and his toe points to an odd number on the inner ring. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Wilkes, John","id":"A8991"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"","id":""}],"techniques":[{"text":"forging (metal forming)","id":"AAT54033"},{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Brass and engraved steel, with restorations; cast steel key","categories":[{"text":"Architectural fittings","id":"THES48994"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tools & Equipment","id":"THES48883"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM2699","2006AM2700","2017KB4956","2021NB6448"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA14","shelf":"","box":"3"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Detector Lock","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Birmingham","id":"x28748"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1680","earliest":"1675-01-01","latest":"1684-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"15.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"lock in","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"without doorknobs","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"17","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"lock out","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"6.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"with doorknobs","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\tSigned IOHANNES WILKES FECIT DE BIRMINGHAM and inscribed: 'IF I HAD YE GIFT OF  TONGUE | I WOULD DECLARE AND DO NO WRONG | WHO YE ARE YT COME BY STEALTH |   TO IMPARE MY MASTER'S WELTH'. \r\n","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Made in Birmingham by John Wilkes (died 1733) and signed by him.\nThe Museum bought the lock in 1926 from a Mr E.P. Kelly for £22.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Detector lock, brass, made by John Wilkes, Birmingham, ca. 1670-1700","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Rupert Gentle and Rachael Feild, <u>Domestic Metalwork 1640-1820</u>, Antique Collectors Club, 1998, p. 384\r\nBracegirdle 1972, p.80"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nBetween 1600 and 1700 locks became increasingly sophisticated. This lock is called a 'detector' because it displays how many times it has been opened. It also has a keyhole hidden beneath the soldier's leg, revealed by pressing a button. Similar locks remain in place at Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire and Sherborne Castle, Dorset.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}},{"text":"DETECTOR LOCK, brass, England; c. 1670-1700,\nmade by John Wilkes of Birmingham (d. 1733)\n\nSigned IOHANNES WILKES FECIT DE BIRMINGHAM and inscribed: 'IF I HAD YE GIFT OF TONGUE | I WOULD DECLARE AND DO NO WRONG | WHO YE ARE YT COME BY STEALTH |  TO IMPARE MY MASTER'S WELTH'. A secret catch swings the man's leg forward to reveal the keyhole and his toe points to an odd number on the inner ring. Every time the key is turned the dials rotate. The lock bolt is released by tilting the man's hat. \n\nMuseum No. M. 109-1926","date":{"text":"07/1994","earliest":"1994-07-01","latest":"1994-07-31"}}],"partNumbers":["M.109-1926"],"accessionNumberNum":"109","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1926,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN2795","2019LR2871","2019LP4420","2019LV5070"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}