Romano-Celtic Mask Puzzle Padlocks: A Study in their Design, Technology and Security

This book presents a little-known and ingenious artefact of the Roman world: a small puzzle padlock whose font plate bears a face or ‘mask’ of ‘Celtic’ style. The padlocks were designed to secure small bags or pouches and their distribution extended across Europe with the majority found in the Danubian region and in the vicinity of Aquileia. The authors examine the cultural context, the origins and uses of the padlocks, and provide detailed solutions to the puzzle mechanisms. The publication provides a fully-illustrated catalog of the known 156 examples, categorises their types according to construction and style, and explores the technicalities of the subject by the process of constructing replica mask puzzle padlocks.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: Types and Locations

Chapter 2: Cultural Attributes by Vanessa Muros

Chapter 3: Origin and Uses

Chapter 4. Mask Puzzle Padlock Solutions and Mechanisms

Chapter 5: Conclusions

Appendix 1: Catalog of the 156 Mask Puzzle Padlocks

Appendix 2: Padlock Groupings Based on Lock Covers by Vanessa Muros

Appendix 3: Analysis of Roman Mask Padlocks in the Slocum Collection by Vanessa Muro

Appendix 4.: Replicas of Mask Padlocks & Money Pouches

Appendix 5: Fakes and Reproductions

Appendix 6: Care of Roman Mask Padlocks by Vanessa Muros

Bibliography

Index