Padlock
Padlock
12th Century (cast)
12th Century (cast)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A feline-shaped padlock with flat flanks and thighs that give the object a geometric rather than naturalistic form.
The flanks are decorated with rectangular panels framed by engraved fillets. With the lion facing left the panel is decorated with four half palmettes with one pointed horizontal lobe and the other curling back and ending with a thick knop. When the lion faces right the panel contains three trilobed half-palmettes of similar design.
The thighs of the lion are decorated with contoured cartouches.
Patina: Purplish red oxide with limited dull green sulphurous spots.
The flanks are decorated with rectangular panels framed by engraved fillets. With the lion facing left the panel is decorated with four half palmettes with one pointed horizontal lobe and the other curling back and ending with a thick knop. When the lion faces right the panel contains three trilobed half-palmettes of similar design.
The thighs of the lion are decorated with contoured cartouches.
Patina: Purplish red oxide with limited dull green sulphurous spots.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Padlock (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze cast in two, the two halves welded. Engraved decoration. |
| Brief description | Bronze cast lion-shaped padlock with engraved decoration. |
| Physical description | A feline-shaped padlock with flat flanks and thighs that give the object a geometric rather than naturalistic form. The flanks are decorated with rectangular panels framed by engraved fillets. With the lion facing left the panel is decorated with four half palmettes with one pointed horizontal lobe and the other curling back and ending with a thick knop. When the lion faces right the panel contains three trilobed half-palmettes of similar design. The thighs of the lion are decorated with contoured cartouches. Patina: Purplish red oxide with limited dull green sulphurous spots. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Object history | Purchased from Monsieur Said Motamed, Frankfurt, 18th May 1971. According to this dealer the padlock was found at Bujnurd, like M.20-1971. |
| Historical context | The lion as an apotropaic symbol that protects doors, dates from earliest Eastern antiquity and continues throughout the Islamic period. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.19-1971 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 12, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
