Truhenschloss, Schmiedearbeit, Schnittarbeit

The mechanism of the chest lock has been preserved in excellent condition and is fully functional: There is a double latch in the centre, next to it there are two side latches with multiple angled spring mechanisms, plus an additional catch. The interior and cover plates are decorated using the etching technique. The main motif on the central round plate at the bottom is the judgement of Paris: Eris, the goddess of discord, is not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. In revenge, she throws an apple labelled "for the most beautiful" into the wedding party. An argument breaks out between Aphrodite, Pallas Athena and Hera over who should get the apple. Zeus appoints Paris, the son of Priam, as arbiter and sends Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to fetch him. In order to win Paris over, each of the goddesses tries to bribe him. Hera promises him power, Athena wisdom and Aphrodite love. Aphrodite is able to decide the judgement in her favour when she offers him Helena, the most beautiful woman in the world, as a bribe. The subsequent robbery of Helen is considered the mythological trigger for the Trojan War. The scene of the judgement itself is depicted. The seated Paris still holds the apple in his left hand, behind him stands the messenger of the gods Hermes, in front of him the three goddesses. Hovering above their heads is the winged Cupid with bow and arrow. Above them, an owl surrounded by five other wild birds is visible in a rectangular field with cut-out corners. In juxtaposition to the ancient theme of the Judgement of Paris, Christ on the cross is placed above, flanked by the two thieves; this scene takes up most of the lock mechanism. The decoration of the smaller areas in between consists of putti, fish and leaf and flower motifs. Four spiral round bars are riveted to the back of the lock in an axially symmetrical arrangement