Description
Persian Locks: 1500 Years of Iranian Padlocks is a beautifully produced, award-winning volume exploring the rich tradition of Iranian lockmaking. With over 500 photographs and illustrations of antique Iranian locks, the book presents a remarkable history of locks and keys across more than fifteen centuries.
In Iran, the padlock developed in an extraordinary range of sizes, shapes, materials, and mechanisms—many of which are rarely encountered in Europe. Despite this richness, relatively little attention has been devoted to the study of these objects. This volume helps fill that gap, offering both visual documentation and a valuable antique locks history of Persian lockmaking traditions.
Parviz Tanavoli, one of contemporary Iran’s leading sculptors, was first drawn to antique padlocks for their sculptural qualities. In this work, he presents over 500 photographs and drawings from his renowned collection, first introduced to the American public by the Smithsonian Institution during the American Bicentennial. The book also includes detailed technical illustrations that clearly explain the internal workings of these locks, providing insight into a wide range of mechanisms, including barbed-spring, helical-spring, notched-shackle, hook, and revolving catch systems—making it an important contribution to lock mechanisms history.
Each lock is dated and, when known, its place of manufacture is identified, making this volume both a visual and scholarly reference for collectors, historians, and enthusiasts of mechanical design.
A smaller version of this work was published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1976 under the title Locks from Iran: Pre-Islamic to Twentieth Century. In 2019–2020, the author expanded and revised the original edition, adding new text and a substantial number of high-quality photographs documenting pieces acquired over more than four decades of continued collecting.
SPECIFICATIONS
Hardcover
144 pages
10 × 8.5 inches
Over 500 full-color photographs and drawings
REVIEW
“An absolutely beautiful volume detailing the lock-making traditions of Iran.”
Persian Locks: 1500 Years of Iranian Padlocks by Parviz Tanavoli is an exceptional work that combines aesthetic beauty with historical depth. The illustrations of lock mechanisms are clear and engaging, in the tradition of classic mechanical diagrams, while the photographs showcase an extraordinary variety of forms and styles across centuries.
The book offers not only diagrams and technical insight, but also a broad historical perspective on lockmaking in Persia. The images are crisp and often in full color, reflecting the care with which this volume has been produced. Even for readers without a specialized interest in locks, this book appeals to anyone who appreciates finely crafted objects and enduring artistic traditions.
— Benjamin Espen
