File:Medieval zoomorphic horse barrel padlock (FindID 759903).jpg

The padlock takes the form of a stylised three-dimensional horse. The head of the animal is hollow, with a hole that runs through from the back of the head to the snout. The head is decorated with two small and triangular ears, which protrude slightly from the top of the head. Behind the ears is a raised line which appears to wrap around the front of the ears, possibly depicting a bridle.

The body of the horse is hollow and D-shaped in section. It is decorated with two raised lines across the back which resemble a saddle. There is another raised line across the base of the neck which appears to connect to the line on the head, again suggesting a bridle. There is an oval shaped hole in the chest of the horse, where the key would have been inserted. The hind of the horse has three square holes, one of which is positioned above the other two. The loop of the padlock is missing, but is likely to have run from these three holes in the hind, into the hole at the back of the head. Both front legs are complete and their curved position gives the impression of running. The back left leg is complete and the back right leg is missing with a worn break evident.

The metal has a light green and even patina. The padlock is 42.0 mm long, 33.6 mm wide, and 13.7 mm thick. It weighs 18.5 g.

Many similar examples have been recorded on the PAS database, including <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/538375">SWYOR-E9B1C4</a>, <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/249751">SWYOR-92FE85</a>, <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/276643">BH-DA5807</a>, <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/711357">BERK-82AD36</a>, <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/633071">IOW-34D9BC</a>, and <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/662811">SF-67C2E5Z</a>. Record BH-DA5807 also references Biddle (1990, p. 1011, fig. 313, no. 3665) for a comparable example. The suggested date range is 12th to early 13th century, though dating on the PAS database ranges from AD 1100 - AD 1500. Such padlocks would probably have been used to secure small caskets, and have also been referred to as barrel or barb-spring padlocks.

Reference:
Biddle, M., 1990 <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/publications/publication/id/317" title="View reference work's details">Object and economy in medieval Winchester: artefacts from medieval Winchester</a> Oxford : Clarendon.