From the artist: "I found this antique volumetric flask on E-bay. Etched on the sides are the volumes 185 and 222; I have no idea of the units involved. I thought that I could put a padlock inside. When I could not find a padlock that would work, I switched to plan B. The whimsey if approximately 10 inches tall. At the end of a Walnut top and shaft is a screw with washers and a nut that locks the stopper mechanism in place."