A SELJUK WHITE METAL PADLOCK of lobed triangular form with sliding shackle above, the front engraved with scrolling vine enclosing deer and bird roundels around a central kufic inscription panel, the sides with similar roundels and triangular floral motifs, the back plain, bent spring with top shackle and single turnkey mechanism, Iran 13th century or possibly later (areas of black patination)

Details

A SELJUK WHITE METAL PADLOCK of lobed triangular form with sliding shackle above, the front engraved with scrolling vine enclosing deer and bird roundels around a central kufic inscription panel, the sides with similar roundels and triangular floral motifs, the back plain, bent spring with top shackle and single turnkey mechanism, Iran 13th century or possibly later (areas of black patination)
2 7/8in. (7.3cm.) high

Lot Essay

This padlock has a reasonably high silver content in the metal.
Padlocks with this type of mechanism in the Tanavoli collection date from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This padlock, however, appears to bring the date back to the thirteenth century, of which period this style of engraved decoration is typical.

Tanavoli, P, and Wertime, J.T.: Locks from Iran, the Parviz Tanavoli Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., 1976

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