
The Key - A Symbol Essential to Us
At the Bureau of Irina Bokova, the key is not just a mundane object; it is a real passport into the closed world of French studios and workshops. Today, we delve into the history of locks and keys, and this journey will allow us to see a familiar, indispensable household item from a new, unexpected angle.
From ancient times, the desire to secure one's safety and preserve hard-earned possessions was one of the main drivers of evolution. Our ancestors defended the entrances to their caves with stones.
Later, people entered their homes through interwoven branches and logs, or boards that rotated around a wooden axis (the prototype of modern doors), secured with wooden latches or opened the door through a leather strap passed through a small hole. Thus, generation after generation, mankind perfected ways to restrict strangers' access to their homes.

Metal Processing and Locksmithing
Replacing the leather strap, a special wooden pin allowed opening from the outside, which can be considered the ancestor of the modern key. Around the year 4000 BC, humans learned to process metal, giving rise to locksmithing, which spurred the search for new forms for producing keys and locks.
No one knows exactly where and when the first key was made. Some researchers believe it happened in China around 2000 BC, others claim Morocco, India, Iran, Central Africa, or even New Guinea as the birthplace of keys, but all agree that the locks that appeared on Earth bore the distinctive features of the so-called "Egyptian key."

From Simple to Complex
The Egyptian key was made of wood or bronze in the shape of the letter L, with two cylindrical notches pointing upwards and positioned to engage with the lock pins. The further development of the key form is credited to the ancient Hebrews. It was they who added a whole system of pins and protrusions that are characteristic of modern keys. And then an unknown craftsman replaced the side movement of the key with a rotational one – the type used in our time.
Gradually, locks and keys transformed into unique works of art. Moreover, throughout the ages, they also symbolized wealth (only those who had something to lock away possessed locks and keys). For instance, in Egypt, the significance of a family head was determined by the number of keys he held.

Roman Culture
Ancient Rome gifted humanity with bronze door hinges, allowing doors to fit frames to the millimeter, and introduced the type of lock known today as the padlock. Romans used these to secure their chests, which in Ancient Rome were customary for storing possessions, as well as to shackle slaves. Additionally, the Romans introduced the world to the "signum" key, which was worn on a ring on the index and middle fingers of the hand and, when the fist was clenched, activated the door bolt; this key was also used as a seal for letters.
Locksmiths in Rome enjoyed immense authority and significant privileges. Even when conscripted into the army, they did not participate in battles but continued their craft.

French Locksmithing
When Rome fell, its locks, among other trophies, passed to the conquerors. Europeans attempted to utilize the principles of Roman locks, but such complex constructions were no longer made. The development of locksmithing stalled for nearly a thousand years. From the 13th century, France took an undisputed lead in lock manufacturing. It was then that King Louis IX issued a special law prohibiting craftsmen who made locks and keys from working at night to avoid diminishing the quality of work and damaging the reputation of French masters.
French attention was, of course, dedicated to aesthetics. Elegant iron locks were opened with flat, lacy bronze keys, polished to a shine, and this fashion lasted quite long – until the end of the 14th century. A new rise in lock manufacturing occurred during the Renaissance. King Henry II mandated judges to perform regular inspections of locksmith workshops and production facilities to check for any underground operations. In the 17th century, French locksmithing received special status as the "fourth art" (after painting, sculpture, and music), which was legislatively recognized in the Corporate rules approved by Louis XIV. At that time, the first lock workshops appeared in Paris, notably JP Maquennehen, which opened in 1645 and is possibly the oldest workshop still operating today.

Modern Keys and Aesthetics
Subsequent centuries gave new powerful impulses to the art of locksmithing. This was facilitated by the advent of electricity, electronics, and computer technologies. The forms of locks have changed, but throughout history, their common functions—to secure people and preserve their goods—have remained. The aesthetic function of keys and locks has almost disappeared—designers typically focus on door hardware but do not delve into technical details.
Nevertheless, both the key and the lock remain common decorative elements and important symbols. Keys and locks are used in creating paintings and sculptures and even as standalone elements of interior decor.
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