Studio: international art (2.1894)

Of Some Old Keys

ness of the junction is emphasised still more. A simply, but they are capable of combinations more
practical advantage of the enlarged junction is that complex and varied than the changes of a full peal
it acts as a stop to prevent a door-key from being of bells. The bit may be flat, or, as in Fig. 2,
thrust too far into the lock. In the case of the wavy; it may be of the same thickness throughout,
key (Fig. 3) there is no clearly defined line of de- or, as in Fig. 4, it may increase in thickness from
marcation at the junction, the barrel outwards ; or again, as in the case of
but the stem expands into Fig. 5 and others, it may be T-shaped in section at
a bulbous body on which the outer edge. This muzzle is sometimes orna-
is a mask in relief. This mented with small slits at intervals, as it were em-
specimen, though remark- battled, or sometimes, like the example (Fig. 3),
able in point of design, is cabled. Bits fenced in this manner (French,
the least graceful, the bit a museau) have the effect of greater strength as com-
jjpi$lfl^#^ projecting a disproportion- pared with those pierced like the key (Fig. 4), the
' W^9i%^W~-^^''//''; ately short length and being wards of which, fine as the teeth of a comb, are
1 f V AwM'/' set at an unusual distance very apt to get bent. This key, it may here be
fy4$- Jjkife^// fr°m the end of the barrel, mentioned, is not Italian, but French of a well-
' WmmS^Mvl latter is finished off known type. In fact, it may be questioned whether
W^F^^^i '''' a §rotesque face 011 most of the keys at the New Gallery are not French
V; the solid extremity, instead or German. The Italians were not distinguished
°^ ke'n8 tubular. Hence as keysmiths or locksmiths, and they appear to
^!////. '// it is obvious that it was have preferred for the most part to obtain their
jt'/y fy', /, ma(^e f°r a double-sided supply from foreign labour on Italian soil, or to
lock ; whereas a key that import foreign goods direct. Hence it does not
opens a lock from one side follow even that the key (Fig. 3) was the work of
only has a piped or hollow an Italian, although it is charged with the arms of
barrel that turns on a pin the Medici. Indeed, several of the other keys bear
for axis. Again, the bit, it a very close resemblance to the keys figured in a
will be observed, is pierced French work on the smith's art by Maturin Jousse,
in a perfectly uniform man- published at La Fleche in 1627.
ner, so as to correspond The barrel, which at the present day is almost
whichever way it be in- invariably made in the shape of a plain cylinder, in
serted into the lock; while, old examples was commonly of more ornamental
on the other hand, the form, triangular, polygonal, trefoil- or quatrefoil-
wards of a key for a one- fluted, having the appearance of engaged columns,
sided lock admit of greater or cabled. One singular example at the New
FIG- 1 variety, and the slits run- Gallery is notched all the way up the stem. Again,
ning into the bit from the the surface of the barrel was sometimes engraved
upper and under sides are not necessarily alike. A or perforated, like the two keys belonging to Mr.
common characteristic of German keys is the regu- James Gurney. The latter method, however,
larity of pattern in the perforations of the bit. The appropriate enough for the elaboration of emblem-
wards are often composed of a series of crosses, stars, atical keys of office, is unsuitable for keys intended
or zigzag openings, or such that resemble the loop- for practical service, as it tends greatly to weaken
holes of fortifications. The slits in the bit of an the stem.

English key ordinarily run at right angles to the Now, since the barrel and wards of a key in use

barrel; whereas in the keys of other nations the are so frequently hidden from sight inside the lock,

slits more frequently enter the bit in a vertical or it follows that the handle, being always exposed,

oblique direction from the upper or under side. is the part on which the artist has been wont most

French writers have carefully analysed the different properly to lavish his decorative ingenuity. In the

forms of wards, so that there is scarcely a key but sixteenth century the bow, which we are content

may be classed under one or other of the principal to make but a bare ring, was rather a mass of orna-

divisions, severally bearing names, the nearest ment, the whole disc being occupied with figures

equivalents of which in English are " plate," and other devices modelled in relief, heraldic forms

"wheel," " rake," " straits," "chape," and " cross." sometimes, or more generally masks, dolphins,

One or other of the above kinds may be employed dragons, hippogrifs, chimeras, and those fantastic
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