Sweet Old Heart-Shaped Iron Lock with Key figurative drawing hand thrown lidded ceramic canisters

hand thrown lidded ceramic canisters have previously held the ingredients for many

which this one does not--rather

and signed EP in lower right

which contains mercury—making one very careful handling it

Sweet Old Heart-Shaped Iron Lock with Key figurative drawing hand thrown lidded ceramic canistersOf course this old heart shaped ironlock would be perfect for locking to a bridge somewhere as a symbol of enduring love, but it's such a sweet one I think better to hold onto it! It takes a small bit of effort but the key still works to open and close it fine, and once locked, it's locked tight. I am not sure the maker, but based on. looking at others similar I'd guess it dates to the 2nd half of the 19th c. 2 7 8" tall x 2 1 8" wide x 1 5 8" deep.