LOCKING SYSTEMS IN BULGARIAN LANDS IN THE 16TH– 19TH CENTURIES

LOCKING SYSTEMS IN BULGARIAN LANDS IN THE 16TH– 19TH CENTURIES

Authors

• П. Чаушев

Keywords:

Locking systems, Rotary key, Iron locks

Abstract

The present article researches the locking systems in Bulgarian lands during 16th –19th centuries. The locks during the considered period are mainly made of wrought iron and are distinguished mainly by their decoration. Despite their uniqueness, they are just one basic type – a rotary key lock. Several varieties of this lock exist, but their basic construction remains unchanged over the centuries. The model is widespread in the Bulgarian lands. It is preferred for its simplicity and reliability. The main requirement for the locks of this period is their physical strength. Therefore, they are always made of solid wrought iron. Due to their relatively high price, very few people could afford them and therefore there are not many preserved specimens from this period. Most often they are used to lock up public buildings, churches, as well as wealthiest merchants’ houses. The cheap imports of industrially produced locks and padlocks imported from Western Europe – which were widely used at the end of the 19th century – led to the abandonment of traditionally hand-made metal locks