Roman to Early Byzantine, found in the Golan Heights, ca. 2nd to 6th century CE. Cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process, a nearly identical pair of solid bronze plates with decorative elements at the corners of the borders, and pairs of ridged protruding elements that were designed to receive a dowel-shaped fitting to lock the door to which they were affixed. Size: 6" L x 6" W (15.2 cm x 15.2 cm); 7.125" H (18.1 cm) on included custom stand.

The ancient peoples wished to safeguard their belongings using mechanical locks. Initially, these were merely simple knots made from rope or other materials; however, with time new technologies developed, and true locks were fashioned from wood and/or metal throughout the world. Many historians believe that the Egyptians invented the first locks some 6,000 years ago, and that the, the Greeks and Romans improved upon their designs and technologies during the first millennia BCE by introducing the use of metals as the primary materials.

Provenance: private Davis Collection, Houston, Texas, USA; ex-Sarkisian Estate, Denver, Colorado, USA, acquired in the early 1960s

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#133078

Surface wear with encrustation as shown and sage green and russet patina.