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Description: | Cast copper alloy padlock case (length 23mm, maximum width 19.5mm, depth 14mm) with a circular body, and a short, rectangular-sectioned arm, or tab, connected to a fixed tapering circular-sectioned bar, or bolt (length 24mm). The rectangular-shaped key aperture is relatively large (height 7mm, width 6mm) and curves back into a transverse slot at its base to allow the key to be manipulated into the interior of the padlock which is T-shaped in profile. The mechanism aperture consists of three rectangular perforations of the same size for the spring strips of the missing bolt (height 4.5mm, width 3.5mm) arranged in a T-shape pattern which reflects the internal profile of the padlock body. The mechanism itself is missing. The surface of the padlock is corroded and no evidence of decoration remains. Weight 11.4 grams. Locks of this type had three components: the padlock case with an attached bar or bolt (as represented by this example); a sprung mechanism which fitted into the padlock case and once engaged formed a closed loop with the case's attached bar; and a slide key which separated the mechanism from the padlock case. In this case the mechanism consisted of three sprung barbs which were pushed through the three perforations in the mechanism aperture of the padlock case. Once pushed through the barbs would spring out securing the mechanism to the padlock case and forming a closed loop with the attached bar. To free the mechanism from the padlock case and open the lock, a slide key with an upturned end containing perforations which matched the shape and arrangement of the sprung barbs, was passed through the padlock case's aperture. The key was then manipulated until its perforated end was fitted on to the tips of the sprung barbs of the mechanism. Once the perforations of the key were fitted on to the ends of the sprung barbs, the key was slid along the sprung barbs; this act caused them to become compressed allowing them to be pulled through the perforations in the apertures mechanism and opening the lock in the process. The spring-strip/slide-key form of mechanism remained in common use until quite recently in parts of the Arab world and the Far East (Egan 1998, 91). The main use of small 'barrel' padlocks like this example were on caskets and certain items of furniture although some had more exotic functions such as securing falcons on their perches (Egan 1998, 91). They were not integral fittings but rather external and separate locks which could be moved from one fitting to another; this portable quality accounts for why so many were lost and are found by metal detectorists (Mills 1999, 73). Similar padlock cases are known from Viking contexts and the type was used throughout the medieval period (Ward Perkins 1940, 146). Small cast copper alloy examples of the type known from London are no later than the thirteenth century in date (Egan 1998, 92); however, the form of the padlock with its distinctive transverse slot and mechanism aperture consisting of three rectangular perforations is closely paralleled by an iron padlock from London dated to the thirteenth to fourteenth centuries (Egan 1998, 97, no.251, fig.70). To suggest a similar date for this example would not be unreasonable | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 1200
1400 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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