This is a large Chinese brass (shinchu) lock, much larger than previous locks offered, engraved with the characters "荣華富貴 (eiga fuki)" and "大明萬歴 (daimimbanreki) 年造," as well as illustrations of dragons and playing children. Based on the lock and its engravings, the following can be considered: "荣華 (Eiga) 富貴 (fuki)" means to prosper by gaining power and wealth. "大明萬歴年造" refers to the Wanli era, the reign of Emperor Shenzong, the 14th emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China (1573-1620). He is also known as the Wanli Emperor, and many of the ceramics produced during his reign bear the inscription "大明萬歴年製 (Daimei Banreki Nen-sei)." The character "萬曆 (Banreki)" is also seen. The inscription on the lock reads "年造 (nen-zo)" instead of "年製 (nen-sei)," which the seller has never seen on ceramics before. Perhaps "年造" was used to distinguish it from ceramics? The dirt and verdigris on the lock suggest that it is a "古玩 (kogan)," meaning antique in Chinese. However, it is unknown whether it was made during the Wanli Emperor's reign over 400 years ago. Of course, it could also be from a later period. Furthermore, the large size of the lock and the engravings of "荣華富貴" suggest that it was used to lock a large and magnificent building. The dragon on the key has four claws, not the special five claws that symbolize the emperor. From this, it seems that the building was not the Imperial Palace (Forbidden City), but it was undoubtedly used to lock a magnificent building. The approximate size and weight are as follows: ・Lock: Length 33 cm, Height 7 cm, Depth 3.8 cm, Locking area 24 cm x 2 cm, Shaft diameter 0.8 cm, Weight 2080 g ・Key: Length 34.5 cm, Height 2.2 cm, Thickness 0.3 cm, Handle head diameter 2 cm, Weight 310 g Similar large locks cannot be found online, and it is believed to be a rare Chinese antique. Although there are some stains, verdigris, and scratches, there are almost no dents or deformations, and unlocking and locking are not a problem. There are several mysteries, such as whether the emperor at the time of manufacture was indeed the Wanli Emperor and what building it was used to lock. It could be used not only for an antique collection but also as an impressive interior decoration. It is a heavy object, so please be careful of dropping or bumping it.