Kogelslot met doorgeroest gat c. 1590 - 1596

This is a wrought-iron padlock with a corroded hole, made by an anonymous artist, and held in the Rijksmuseum. In its basic design, the padlock appears to be a simple functional object. But the very concept of a lock implies a complex web of social, economic, and political relationships. This particular lock comes to us without a known maker or even a specific date of origin. We can only guess at the Dutch context in which it was made and used. Was it meant to protect something of high value? Was it meant to enforce boundaries between people? Was it used to protect a business? Or did it come from a prison, or a private house? Was it a high quality lock? Or was it cheap and commonplace? The rust and corrosion suggest that it outlived its usefulness, becoming a relic rather than a working tool. Understanding this object fully requires us to dig deeper into the economic and social history of the Netherlands, looking at the ways property was owned and secured and how social divisions were reinforced through material objects.