Masterpiece padlock and keySouthern GermanySteelAbout 1580 To become a master locksmith an apprentice had to produce a ‘masterpiece’. Here the locksmith demonstrated his skill by creating a robust and secure lock and refining its appearance with delicate etching. Similar patterns decorated other 16th century goods and furnishings, from embroidery to tooled leather. Designs circulated among craftspeople through printed versions on paper and were widely recommended in pattern books.
Pop-upView Separately

Masterpiece padlock and key
Southern Germany
Steel
About 1580

To become a master locksmith an apprentice had to produce a ‘masterpiece’. Here the locksmith demonstrated his skill by creating a robust and secure lock and refining its appearance with delicate etching. Similar patterns decorated other 16th century goods and furnishings, from embroidery to tooled leather. Designs circulated among craftspeople through printed versions on paper and were widely recommended in pattern books.

Source: vam.ac.uk

824 Notes/ Hide

  1. shinyobsessed reblogged this from ritterlied
  2. parabianmau reblogged this from dratex
  3. dratex reblogged this from zholtaniusar
  4. zholtaniusar reblogged this from fistfuloffur
  5. talyeer reblogged this from justabenedictine
  6. republic-of-awesome reblogged this from blindsorcerer
  7. gobsmackinggoodness reblogged this from homeworld66
  8. beardier reblogged this from homeworld66
  9. homeworld66 reblogged this from lilgingercub
  10. themasksalesman reblogged this from mydelightfulmadness
  11. mydelightfulmadness reblogged this from nuclearnike
  12. malyczarnynotes reblogged this from aluslaw
  13. tehlezzie reblogged this from malverne
  14. graceevolved reblogged this from scarah77
  15. realeyesstrikingskies reblogged this from scarah77
  16. scarah77 reblogged this from bustybloodvessel
  17. bustybloodvessel reblogged this from le-paon-blanc
  18. mindfullofminutia reblogged this from malverne
  19. malverne reblogged this from redeyesonblacksails
  20. kiddamisfit reblogged this from nuclearnike
  21. nuclearnike reblogged this from onecricket
  22. spartacus-hughes reblogged this from le-paon-blanc
  23. onecricket reblogged this from justabenedictine