Item ref: 5247
Private collection, USA
This lock has a brass front-plate, engraved with scrolling rococo decoration which shows a bird of prey, flowers, foliage and shell-work; it is fitted with an additional steel plate chiselled en rocailles. Four shooting bolts are released by a pivoting iron bar chiselled in the form of a diagonally fluted serpent with naturalistic head terminal. A key works within an octagonal tower cupola, with an additional release mechanism in the form of another pivoting iron bar, chiselled with fluting en suite with the serpent and with brass turk's head terminal. The steel back-plate shows pierced decoration.