This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Cart

Your cart is empty

Continue Shopping

Vintage Tuareg Lock and Key

£195.00

An ornate vintage Tuareg lock made of brass with applied silver and copper plaques. It has detailed tribal decorative work on both the brass and the silver plaques, also engraved motifs on both sides. The maker’s signature is engraved on the back.

This lock has three keys attached by a leather thong which unlock the various parts of the traditional mechanism. The craftsmanship of this piece is very fine and the quality is excellent. A stunning unique collector’s item, rare!

About Tuareg Locks

Tuareg people use a tamask n’asrou (lock and key) to secure their large leather bags containing personal possessions whilst travelling in the desert regions. These locks are often large and cumbersome with very intricate mechanisms and more than one key is needed to unlock them. In fact, more complex mechanisms need 3 or 4 keys to be used in sequence in order to gain access. They are made by artisans specialising in this craft using silver, metal, copper, brass or aluminium and are highly decorative, often featuring engraved work.

Date:

1970s

Material:

Brass, silver and copper

Dimensions:

6.9 cm (h) × 9.5 cm (w) × 1.8 cm (d) - (2¾ in × 3¾ in × ¾ in)

Total weight:

181 g (6.4 oz) incl. keys

Ref:

LCK-725