Le Parfait Serrurier

Louis Berthaux (1828-1868) was a 19th-century French locksmith and engraver, trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Dijon. His work, Le parfait serrurier, ou Traité complet des ouvrages faits en fer (first published in 1834 and reissued until 1868), is part of the tradition of illustrated technical treatises of the 19th century--a period marked by industrialization and the valorization of artisanal craftsmanship. Berthaux combined his expertise as a locksmith with his talent as an engraver to produce a manual that is both practical, aesthetically refined, and pedagogical, intended for professionals and informed amateurs alike.The Parfait Serrurier is at once a technical manual, an illustrated collection of models, and a historical reference for locksmithing and artistic ironwork. The Atlas presented here focuses solely on locksmithing, setting aside artistic ironwork to give special attention to the design and manufacture of locks.Unlike many technical authors of his time, who came from academic circles, Berthaux emerged directly from the world of artisanal practice.