Caption

Square-faced lock by Michal Taszynski fl. 1820–1838. Door lock with latches and key, No. 114, made in 1861 and marked with the guild marks of the Warsaw Locksmiths' Assembly. Precisely crafted, it uses protruding side bolts latches to lock the door simultaneously in three directions—top, bottom, and middle. Ornamentation on the top features a light pattern. Mechanism: a resting bolt with two heads and a latch bolt between them that opens with a half-turn; a full turn of the key activates the double bolt and the locking mechanism. Neat workmanship; inside the box, on the side, a hallmark is stamped twice—depicting a striding figure with a large key, likely a striding bear styled like the city's 19th-century coat of arms, indicating the work of a master. Attributed to Michal Daniel Taszynski born 1836, son of Michal Taszynski, a locksmith specializing in polished steel accessories, who purportedly made his masterpiece in 1861. Technique: locksmithing. Dimensions: height 16.1 cm, width 15.8 cm, depth 6.9 cm., A metallic rectangular box with a raised decorative base and a flat top surface, showing a few areas of tarnish and wear in gray and silver tones, has a vertical cylindrical post rising from its top and a horizontal flat bar extending across it; a flat vertical plate attached to the back of the box with a few circular holes is visible, and the object rests on a reflective surface that mirrors its gray and silver colors against a pale lavender-gray background.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A10_049

License type

Rights managed

Available size

77.2Mb (1.3Mb) / 20.0in x 15.0in / 6000 x 4499 (300dpi)

Keywords

Square-faced lock Michal Taszynski fl 1820–1838 Door lock latches key No 114 1861 marked guild marks Warsaw Locksmiths Assembly Precisely crafted uses protruding side bolts latches lock door simultaneously three directions top bottom middle Ornamentation top features light pattern Mechanism resting bolt two heads latch bolt them opens half-turn full turn key activates double bolt locking mechanism Neat workmanship inside box side hallmark stamped twice depicting striding figure large key striding bear styled city's 19th-century coat arms indicating work master Attributed Michal Daniel Taszynski born 1836 son Michal Taszynski locksmith specializing polished steel accessories purportedly masterpiece Technique locksmithing Dimensions height 16.1 cm width 15.8 cm depth 6.9 cm metallic rectangular box raised decorative base flat top surface showing areas tarnish wear gray silver tones vertical cylindrical post rising horizontal flat bar extending across flat vertical plate attached back circular holes visible object rests reflective surface mirrors silver colors pale lavender-gray background.