 The fish shaped padlock is very ancient and would have been chosen because the fish sleeps with its eyes open - ie its always on guard.
 A Chinese sliding key padlock representing the Lion Dog.
 Sliding key padlock with decorated brass panels, from North Africa.
 Another example of a padlock, in the shape of a elephant, where the security is enhaced by the percieved qualities of the animal.
 Drawing from Shing's patent specification for a secret padlock. British Patent No. 5556 dated 1st April 1889.
 Small decorated padlock with external wards.
 Large iron padlock with external wards.
| The spring barb padlock is a very ancient form of locking mechanisum and is capable of an amazing variety of variations.
No one knows who or where it was invented but its widespread in the Old World and seems to have its roots in the Middle and Far East regions.
It first appears around the 1st or 2nd centry BC and spreads to most parts of the Old World.
It's also likely that it's one of those inventions that was transmitted via the activities of merchants and trade routes.
The question is unliklely to be difinitively answered.
The Key, whether sliding or turning compresses a number of spring barbs which when locked block the shackle from being withdrawn.
As the name suggests the barb, which is made from spring material and attached to the shackle, can be pushed forward through the apertures, compressing the spring barbs as it goes and springing apart once locked, therby preventing withdrawal.
The correct key whether sliding or turning style compresses the barbs so that the shackle can be withdrawn back through the apertures and removed.
Many locks also contain fixed ward elements as well.
Locks have been found in a variety of metals including cast brass, bronze and iron.
Some are assembled by soldering or braising the various parts together whilst others are totally assembled by riveting.
Embellishments in the form of decorated brass panels, or symbols add another dimension to the security of the lock.
Each region or culture imbedded into their everyday products a certain amount of their own culture or belief system.
Padlocks, by their very nature of keeping possesions safe, were subject to design and embellishment features to increase its effectiveness.
For example the Chinese Foo Dog, Fu Dog or Lion Dogs is a well-known symbol representing the Chinese guardian lions which in turn had its roots in the Buddhist tradition symbolising majesty and loyalty.
They are depicted in pairs and are placed at the entrances to Temples, public buildings and even the home for protection and to ward of negative energies.
One, a female with a cub, guarding or looking afterthe building owner's family and intersts, and the other, a male with a ball symbolising the globe and looks after the interests of man and civil order.
When used in padlock form, particularly in pairs, they would have also been a powerful psychological deterrrent.
Many other animal-shaped padlocks can be found which would also convey a subliminal or subconscious message.
The fish padlock for instance, popular in China at a very early date.
The fishsleeps with its eyes open and therefore the inference is itsalways watching, always on guard.
Or the elephant sugesting strength.
Its probable that a prospective purchaser of a padlock would base his decision primarily on his affinity with the deity or spirit animal that was represented.
Another method adopted was the puzzle or secret padlock.
Some with sliding keys, others with turning keys, and even some with both!
However on first inspection no place can be found to insert the key.
A secret shutter, panel or flap had first to be moved in such a way as to reveal the key hole.
In 1889 a certain Sun Kam Shing patented his puzzle padlock (dated April 1st 1889 number 5556) which featured a secret or concealed keyhole, a feature which had been adopted for centries!
Not all padlocks were intended to physically protect property.
There were in many cultures other purposes for employing a padlock.
In the islamic world for instance, when visiting a shrine a pilgrim tear a strip of his clothing and attach it to the shrine grillwork with a padlock thus locking an affermation, a practice which still continues today.
Locksmiths would set up at the entrance making and selling padlocks for this purpose.
Another tradition, relating to woman during confinement was the ceremonial application of a special knotted cord with a loop at each end and secured with a padlock.
A cleric would chant and at the appropiate moment during the proceedings attach the cord arround the waist of the mother to be with a tiny padlock.
This cord would not be unlocked untill the ninth month agin with ceremony.
The females of the family treasured these cords and padlocks which were handed down from generation to generation.
In China a miniature padlock was traditionaly given, particularly to a new-born, as a token of protection and well-being.
These miniature padlocks were ofter made gold or silver in wealthy families, and were also inscribed withsymbols such as a five petal heart shaped blossom of the Prunus fruit trees.
Five, being a sacred number, is also known as the five blessings.
Another motif popular for newly weds was a pair of birds which represent happiness.
When used on a padlock the symbolic intention in either caseis a wish locked to the individual or couple.
In fact the lock or the key has been used symbolically throughout the ages as a material expresion of binding the intangible, providing insight or enlightenment.
Take for instance the Papal cross keys to the gates of heaven or keys used inrituals and ceremonies - an aspect of the locksmiths craft that crops up again and again.
In modern times some padlocks carry on the symbolic or sub-conscious aspect such as Squirel brand with the logo oftwo squirrels, implying"keeping goods safe untill required".
Or Chubb's fish logo suggesting its constantly on guard - could these also have been chosen as a psychological deterrent reinforcing the physical deterrent.
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| Left - Logo on Squirrel Brand (now Lowe & Fletcher) padlocks from the 1950s depicting a pair of squirrels suggesting keeping goods safe. Right - Fish logo on Chubb escutcheons - reinforcing the phyisical deterrent with a psychological one.
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The spring barb padlock is still made today using the age old skills and techniques of a charcoal fire and a boulder as an anvil.
As such it is almost impossible to date an example taken out of context and without provenance.
Since the industrial revolution discarded metal was recycled into all sorts of items including locks.
One can imagine the Bedouin camped alongside a discarded steam engine gradualy reducing the metal parts into a new lease of life.
When travelling in the Middle or Far East very often these locks can be found in the more out of the way bazaars and flea markets and are even found without to much difficulty here in the West, they were originally brought back as souvenirs.
Most collectors accept that locks bought today at Bazaars whilst traveling or on holiday abroad may only be a few years old, but what is important is that they are made in the traditional style and in the traditional way as generations of locksmiths did before.
And in some small way this helps to keep the traditional craft of the locksmith alive.
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