Item ref: 5248
Private collection, United States
This extraordinary piece of craftsmanship has a brass front-plate that is engraved with scrolling rococo decoration which incorporates flowers, foliage and shell-work. Four shooting bolts are released by a pivoting iron bar chiselled in the form of a mermaid, her tail consumed by a fish. The lock retains its original key working within an octagonal tower cupola, with an additional release mechanism constructed as another pivoting iron bar and chiselled, in similar fashion, in the form of a maritime monster. The steel back-plate is pierced with further foliate decoration en suite with the key.