Lock

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of early American craftsmanship with *Lock*, a striking iron masterpiece from around 1800, now housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing. Measuring 5 7/8 x 10 inches (14.9 x 25.4 cm), this yet elegantly forged object exemplifies the blacksmith's art during the young United States' formative years. Gifted to the museum in 1935 by I. Peace Hazard, it invites us to appreciate the ingenuity behind everyday security devices. Crafted entirely from iron—a durable medium central to colonial and early federal-era workshops—this lock highlights the skilled handiwork o...