Description
Persian Locks is a beautiful award-winning book detailing the lock-making traditions of Iran. With over 500 photos and illustrations of antique Iranian locks, it will take you on a 1500 years lockmaking journey. In Iran, the padlock developed in an amazing variety of sizes, shapes, materials, and mechanisms, the likes of which are less frequently encountered in Europe. On the whole, very little attention has been devoted to the history and development of Iranian padlocks.
Parviz Tanavoli, contemporary Iran’s leading sculptor, was first attracted to the antique padlocks of his own country because of their sculptural qualities. In this beautiful and informative book the author shares with us, in over 500 photos and drawings, the most interesting examples of antique locks from his famous collection which was first introduced to the American public by the Smithsonian Institute on the occasion of the American Bicentennial. You will also find detailed drawings of antique padlocks which clearly illustrate the workings of the various locking mechanisms (e.g., barbed-spring, helical-spring, notched-shackle, hook and revolving catch, etc.) used in the locks in this book. All locks are dated and when known, the place of manufacture is given.
A smaller version Persian Locks was published by The Smithsonian Institution in 1976 with the title, “Locks from Iran: Pre-Islamic to Twentieth Century.” In 2019 and 2020 the author edited his original book adding new text and a great number of new high-quality photos of Persian padlocks which have been added to his collection in the 44 years since the first book was published.
Hardcover, 144 pages, 10-inches x 8.5-inches, over 500 full color photos and drawings.
Review of Persian Locks
“An absolutely beautiful volume detailing the lock-making traditions of Iran”
Persian Locks: 1500 Years of Iranian Padlocks by Parviz Tanavoli is an absolutely beautiful volume detailing the lock-making traditions of Iran. I wouldn’t hesitate to put this on my coffee table. The illustrations of lock mechanisms within this book are solidly in the tradition of Roger Jean Segalat’s How Things Work [the original of course!], fascinating in their clarity and simplicity.
However, you don’t simply get diagrams of how locks were constructed, but a reasonably comprehensive history of locks and lockmaking within Greater Iran or Persia. Along with that is a selection of photographs of locks from the author’s collection, showcasing an astounding variety of forms and styles across the centuries.
The care with which Persian Locks was produced is evident. All of the pictures are crisp and clear, many in full color. I understand that not everyone has my fascination with locks, but this book has something for anyone who can appreciate beautiful things made in a tradition handed down from father to son and master to apprentice for millennia. – Benjamin Espen
Visit Parviz Tanavoli’s Lock artwork page.
See our other books on this subject.
