Door lock with the Montmorency number in chiselled... Lot 131

Door lock with the Montmorency number in chiselled and engraved iron. The rectangular palisade is entirely engraved with foliage and foliage scrolls that surround two monograms with interlaced AMD letters, surmounted by a crown of alternating oak balls and leaves. A half-sphere shaped knob protrudes from the paleta, resting on a plate chiselled with stylized roosters. On the reverse side, the font is superbly engraved with interlacing, elaborately designed foliage, topped by an openwork crown and also engraved with a pair of winged, interlaced figures, finished with multi-wound floral and leafy tails. The other parts of the mechanism are chiselled, moulded and the latch entirely engraved with various ornaments. Rare and beautiful French work from the end of the 16th century. Note the quality of execution of the engraving of the foncet. Although the figure of Anne de Montmorency, most often used by the Constable, is an interlacing of A and M; we find, especially in Ecouen, the monogram AMD that we have here. It is therefore likely that this lock was made for one of the Constable's residences. Missing the barrel and the tip. Dimensions: 22,2 cm - 8,7 cm - Thickness: 2,6 cm Bibliography: La Fidèle ouverture ou l'art du serrurier,Marie Pessiot, n°93 of the Rouen 2007 exhibition catalogue, p. 119.