Escher Vault

The Escher Vault
The vault
Effects	Massive, shifting, labyrinthine vault
Source	M. C. Escher
First Appearance	"Time Will Tell"

The Escher Vault is a location within Warehouse 13 used to store the personal effects of everyone who had been bronzed and stored in the Bronze Sector.

History

The Escher Vault is named for, inspired by, and likely created by M. C. Escher, who was one of Warehouse 13's designers.

In the 1990s, an agent entered the Escher Vault (presumably without the proper goggles) out of curiosity and was never seen again.

H. G. Wells broke into the vault in 2010 with the help of James MacPherson, using the Imperceptor Vest to navigate the Vault faster than its interior could change to retrieve some of her belongings. After MacPherson was apprehended and immediately agreed to explaining his and Wells's plan in exchange for his life, Helena removed his protective palladium crystals, killing him just outside of the vault. Later that day Mrs. Frederic and Arthur Nielsen entered the vault and noticed that some of Wells' belongings were missing.

Later, Artie began experiencing hallucinations of MacPherson. Believing his psychic residue may have latched onto and activated an artifact within the vicinity of the vault, he first took to spraying the area with neutralizer, then identified Grigori Rasputin's Prayer Rope and neutralized it thoroughly with the Neutralizer Scrubber, ultimately to no avail.

When following Walter Sykes to stop him from infiltrating the Warehouse, Jane Lattimer found a pin worn by the Regents of Warehouse 7, which she showed to the pursuing agents over Farnsworth.

After Pete Lattimer activated the 42nd Street Film Marquee, he led a group of its dancers into the Escher Vault to trap them inside, but they caused a significant amount of damage while inside.

How it Works

No one discusses how the vault works. However, it appears it operates outside the realm of ordinary physics. During Episode 1 of Season 2, the functional mode of the vault is demonstrated. In parts, Artie and Mrs. Frederic appear to be walking upside down. At least part of the mechanism (without the goggles) shows that elements such as steps are swung into place "Just In Time". In one sequence, Artie and Mrs. Frederic walk on a staircase and each new step is swiftly swung into place seconds before they step upon it. Two steps back, the no longer needed step more slowly swings back out of sight.

To access both the vault and the compartment holding the special goggles, one must enter the correct password into a computerized template in the shape of a Penrose triangle. Hidden behind a bolt in the door frame behind the console is a keyhole; when the key (held by Mrs. Frederic) is used, a secret compartment in a nearby column opens. The special goggles are in that hollow.

Relativity: The painting by MC Escher upon which the Escher Vault is based.

Control console.

Control console and the vault's closed door.

Secret compartment, console and closed door.

The Vault door opened.

Example of the Vault changing it's layout.

Special goggles for navigating the vault

A more detailed version of the Escher Vault's interior by Derek Schneider

The Escher Goggles

Contents

Besides containing H. G. Wells' ring, locket, compact, (and items she chose to leave), the Vault also contains items belonging to other unknown individuals, including:

• A ring
• An antique standing telephone
• An antique flashbulb camera
• The letters RX
• An urn

Stored artifacts can be seen using cards with the triangular logo of this vault to which the item was assigned.

Trivia

• One curious agent entered the Vault in the 1990s and has not been seen since.
• In "Stand", Jane Lattimer found a pin worn by the Regents of Warehouse 7 in the Vault. Whether this means the Vault is used to contain personal belongings other than those owned by Bronzed individuals, or if a Warehouse 7 Regent was Bronzed, is unknown.
• The password appears to be ROLMS VXMCB DLEANPTQ (along the triangle's exterior surface) NBT P MRVLTMXC (along the triangle's inner surface).

Real World Connections

The Vault's construction is based on Escher's famous 1953 lithograph, Relativity, while the password template is a Penrose triangle, which featured prominently in Escher's works.

The Vault has also been featured in a Warehouse 13 commercial since the first season.

Appearances

• Season 1 commercials
  • "Cast"
  • "Characters"
• Time Will Tell (debut)
• Mild Mannered (mentioned)
• Stand (mentioned)
• Endless (mentioned)