A LARGE LATE MING BRASS LOCK AND KEY

Details

A LARGE LATE MING BRASS LOCK AND KEY
WANLI SIX-CHARACTER INSCRIBED MARK AND OF THE PERIOD

The housing of the lock of simple form, the inner mechanism worked by a key with long handle cast with three faceted segments with slit-pierced sides revealing a loose inner cylinder pierced with diaper pattern, below ribbed bands and a knop terminal with central aperture, the other end hinged where it joins the slender rectangular bar cast at one end with two shou characters, one placed above the other, which when inserted into the similarly formed aperture in the lock and pushed opens the lock, the nianhao inscribed in outlined characters in a line on the inner face of the lock below the bar
Lock 11 1/16in. (28.1cm.) long

Lot Essay

A more ornate lock of this shape, also bearing a Wanli mark, and a similar ornate key was illustrated by Michael Markbreiter, 'The Grace Wu Bruce Collection of Chinese Furniture', Arts of Asia, November/December, 1987, p. 135