Need help in identifying this very old key

hommeclef

Hi everyone,

Can somebody help me identify this type of key, and value. The only thing I have been able to gather from googling is that it seems to be gallo-roman, from 16th century. That’s it.

Thank you for your help.

Allan

Ian D. Lewis

They look like French Night latch Keys.
My information comes from a book called “KEYS Thier history & collection” by Eric Monk. And for those of you who are interested the seems to be at least 30 copies on Amazon.co.uk

———- Post added at 12:16 PM ———- Previous post was at 11:55 AM ———-

Also quite a few on amazon.com

Tom Gordon

Sometimes called a Dutch latch as well, they were still being made well into the 19 century but most were fitted in Georgian times -the upside down T escutchion is often still there on old houses in Topsham for instance

hommeclef

Thanks to all for the input. I ordered the book thru Amazon, which I think will be a great asset in the future.

Allan