Antique Wrought Iron Padlock, Northern Italy (lombardy – Veneto), Late 16th – Early 17th Century

An antique padlock of architectural design, of exceptional quality and condition, placing it among the finest examples of this type of Italian Late Renaissance production. Entirely forged and hot-forged, the ribbed trapezoidal body retains particularly sharp edges and a fine, linear engraving of scrolling foliage with remarkable legibility, attesting to a rare state of preservation for a piece of this period. Traces of old forging bluing are still visible, constituting a highly desirable marker of authenticity and freshness. The padlock features a rare, solid, movable rectangular shackle with internal hooks, stamped with an old blacksmith's mark, legible "RM" (or "IM" depending on the reading), which remains unattributed. Its complex internal mechanism with forged bolts is operated by its original stepped key, which remains perfectly functional—an exceptional feature for a padlock of this period. Thanks to the preservation of its dimensions, the clarity of its decoration, the integrity of its mechanism, and the presence of its original key, this example stands out as a true collector's item, comparable to the finest examples held in public and private collections specializing in Renaissance ironwork. Dimensions: Height 13 cm – Width 6.5 cm – Depth 3.5 cm