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Museum of Locksmiths, Musée de la Serrurerie
Museum of Locksmiths, Musée de la Serrurerie
Metro: Saint Paul
Arrondissement: 3eme
Place de Thorigny, 1 rue de la Perle.
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Locks have been around for centuries and their variety and intricacy is surprisingly fascinating.
Some locks are rather clumsy yet efficient, while others show the delicate craftsmanship of a fine Swiss watch.
The locksmith has been esteemed and highly sought after for as long as people have wanted to lock up treasures or to lock away other people.
The Museum of Locksmiths, Musée de la Serrurerie, has a vast and interesting collection of locks, keys and door-knockers dating from the Gallo-Roman period, the middle ages and from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
The museum is housed in a beautifully restored mansion, built in 1685 by architect Liberal Bruant.
Liberal Bruant, born in 1635, was a French architect best known as the designer of the Hôtel des Invalides.
His work is classified as either High Baroque or Rococo.
Baroque is a style of architecture and decoration that developed in the 17th century.
It is characterized by the interpenetration of oval spaces and curved surfaces, with conspicuous use of decoration, sculpture and color.
Liberal Bruant was the most notable in a family that produced many architects during the 16th to the 18th centuries.
In 1660, he was chosen to restore Louis XIII's old arsenal (the Salpetrière), which was converted into a workhouse and orphanage.
He died on November 22, 1697.
The building of the Locksmith Museum is in a different style than that of Les Invalides. Notably, there are a series of rondels on the facade decorated with cornucopias.
The inside stairwells are decorated with illusional paintings which are characteristic of the baroque period.
This was the personal home of Liberal Bruant and was purchased by the Bricard company which specializes in decorative locks and iron works.
The museum displays an amazing assortment of bronze keys and iron keys, gothic door decorations and intricate iron works for doors and windows.
The collection covers the Gallo-Roman period up to the 19th century. It is a fine and fascinating exhibit. The museum also offers a locksmith workshop.
The museum is open from 10 a.m.-12 noon and then again from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. It is closed on Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
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