16 April 2009

Rue Longue - the Old Lock


Here are details of the old lock and, in the smaller photograph, the doorknob - see yesterday's post.

The door knob wobbles but who cares?

Look at that old door, riddled with woodworm, yet still going strong after 466 years.

19 comments:

Olivier said...

belle macro, j'aime ce détail, on sent la rouille de cette serrure.

Vogon Poet said...

Wonderful details, I still hope to find something like this around here.
It would be interesting to se the key of this lock.

Bibi said...

These are beautiful, and nowadays you'd pay so much for something similar, whereas once-upon-a-time they were commonplace.

I've often noticed that the keyholes in older locks are 'upside down'. Do you know why? Or perhaps we're upside down now.

brattcat said...

Haha. I agree with Vogon Poet. You take us closer and closer, help us see the beauty in the details. The decorative work in that lock is nearly lost to age and yet, by focusing on it, you give it a voice.

Chuckeroon said...

Getting to grips with the macros,J!

At Ham House there is nothing more exciting than to say "I'll get the key to the main door and let you out that way". You rummage in the drawer and pull out the huge 1610 key, slip it into the 1610 lock and it turns smoothly, like a hot knife through butter. Such a feeling of connection with the past! People are always impressed when you wave the key about with a small, discrete flourish before slotting it into the lock.

Catherine said...

It is almost encrusted in the old wood. How many hands and fingers have touched it !

Catherine said...

It is almost encrusted in the old wood. How many hands and fingers have touched it !

Jilly said...

Bibi, I don't know why they are upside-down but we must find out. Chuckeroon, perhaps you know with all your work at Ham House? I lived for six years in a Jacobean house in Kent and that had just such a key as you describe. It was an amazing feeling to use it every day to open the very old, very low (!) door to enter the place or leave.

Lessie said...

400 years???? Amazing.

m_m said...

Great! Nice you share with these photos:)

Mo said...

Doors and locks, I love them the older the better. I wonder if there is an old key somewhere that fits that door lock

Abe Lincoln said...

Such a long time for the wood. How did they determine its age?

marley said...

466 years!! Wow! That is such a great photo of the lock. Really nice details :)

Marie-Noyale said...

would love to see the key that goes with it!!

Clueless in Boston said...

Very interesting close up. I think it might look great in b&w.

Dusty Lens said...

Fabulous! Wow, I can not imagine the age of these.

raf said...

This is just an incredibly beautiful image of lock and door, Jilly. Your whole Rue Longue series is truly wonderful.

Peter said...

Yes, the key may be a bit heavy, but I wouldn't care! :-)

marta said...

Wow! I didn't realize that the door was that old.

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