39Lock (qofl, ghofl)

Iran, mid-20^th century Brass 1.8 × 1.9 in. (4.6 × 4.7 cm) Wereldmuseum, Amsterdam, TM-5748-6a Photographs courtesy of the museum

Locks like this one were (and still are) commonly used at Shiʿa mosques and shrines. They were hung on the chain at the entrance or on the trellis or screen (zarih in Persian) surrounding the tomb of a holy man or woman (see figure 6 in this essay; Gluck 1977, p. 160). Pilgrims would pledge a vow, and the lock would be hung as a reminder of that vow. Once the wish was fulfilled, the lock would automatically loosen and fall to the ground. These locks were also attached to the ceremonial standards (ʿalams) paraded in processions (dasteh) during Ashura and displayed inside shrines. They came in various shapes, such as simple rectangles or representations of birds, lions, or horses, like this example. Some locks had talismanic functions and were inscribed with protective texts or symbols. Such locks were also popular souvenirs for foreign tourists visiting Iran. Until the mid-twentieth century, locks like this one were handmade by locksmiths in city bazaars and villages, but they were eventually replaced by cheaper, factory-made imports (Tanavoli and Wertime, p. 16–20).

Mirjam Shatanawi Lecturer, Amsterdam University of the Arts

Citation: Mirjam Shatanawi, “Lock (qofl, ghofl).” Catalog entry in The Emamzadeh Yahya at Varamin: An Online Exhibition of an Iranian Shrine, directed and edited by Keelan Overton. 33 Arches Productions, January 15, 2025. Host: Khamseen: Islamic Art History Online.