14th century medieval key

icemandan

i guess i kinda know what this is, but if anyone can add anything please do. also i just had to show it. it’s 3 ¼″ (unfortunately the tip broke)

Gerry

hello icemandan,

it is a key from the 14th to 16th century,
used for padlocks or chest-locks.
in germany it is a very common key from this time.

from where do get your keys?

gerry

icemandan

hello gerry, and thank you. actually my wife got these from her late great uncles estate. these are less then 10% of the total collection from what i heard as all the keys were divided up and given to family members. the funny thing is i started collecting skeleton keys when i was a kid, then i got interested in girls and have no idea what happend to them. i collect japanese tin toys, crank phonographs and records. so i’m not sure if i will getting back into key collecting. although i have been thinking about parting with my phonos and records as they take up alot of room. (that would make the wife happy) anyway thanks again.

                                regards dan

Gerry

hello dan,

i am collecting keys since a long time,
now i got more than 900, but it is
very easy to display it on a wall.
i have pinned them all on 200cm to 250cm.

i am collecting mostly german and european
keys, all older than 200 years and handmade.

if you want to have a look, please give me an
emailadress.

i have never heard about japanese tin toys, i just
know the german ones, coming from nuremberg,
and in a little town close by they have some crank
phonographs in a museum.

regards

gerry

Doug MacQueen

Gerry, could I convince you to post pictures of a some your nicer kays? I have only recently become interested in pre- 1800 locks and am finding some to be truly works of art in metal. Doug

Gerry

hi doug,

which century you want to see, especially?

Doug MacQueen

Any century really but ones that show the greatest skill in making. Thanks Doug

Brian Denyer

Here are some examples of similar types of hand made keys. They are hammered and then brazed with brass/copper mix. Quality ranges form almost crude to very sophisticated. Your keys look as if they were left in the locks and rusted? Also some of these keys come in larger sizes and were used for front door locks. I know because I have the key and lock from some European doors which they were taken off from.

Brain …………………………….

EuropeLocks

I really don’t think this key is that old. From the bow it looks German but more like 1600’s and maybe eary 1700’s. The rolled shank seems to place it in that time period. Just a thought.

Gerry

the short keys are older than the longer ones
because the early locks were mounted outside
the chests
(from roman to ca.1500) please see the picture

later they mount it inside that needs longer keys
(ca.1500-1800)

Brian Denyer

[INDENT]I don’t believe that generalizations can be made about the length of a key
and the time it was used?
Each society and Guild had various likes and styles indicating geographic areas of manufacture.
Do you have published references for your staements about the length of keys and
time period ?
Each Locksmith had a personal style. They made a subjective decison based on their
background, experience and Locksmith Guild policy. The mounting style varied with the Locksmith; the local style; the security level of the structure/container; the artistic skill
of the Locksmith/metal worker; the dictates of client and several other factors.

Although I do think that we can make observations about mechanical features and acquired wear patterns on the locks and keys.

Brian ……………………………………….

[/INDENT]

emy12

Hi.

I started taking interest and collecting the keys while back,mainly 100 years old ,skeleton iron large and sometimes cooper. Someone f them have the name of the owner or the room that was used for really cool. Since the old keys are in fashion right now, I really have to be sure that I buy the original ones . There are so many that sell keys under the vintage name but actually they are not more than 20 years old or some recently made as well. I really like the idea of turning the keys into rings or bracelets ,but I dont have that skill..🙁doh): If any one wants to see a collection of my keys I will send you the website.

Brian Denyer

Sure it would be interesting to see the website.
Please send the link to it?

emy12

Here is my website where I have put some of my keys and I am attaching a photo of what i have at home. Over a year I been selling about 200 if them but only now I came to realize that they were the most antique and unique keys.I would love to see others collection as well.

Brian Denyer

Thanks for sending the link.
It is interesting that you are selling antique keys.
There are a few great antique keys on Ebay
but they really sell for lots of mioney!

Must be quite a few collectors who bid for them.
Once and a while it is possible to win nice keys.

I use antique keys for graphics.
By owning the original keys and locks
any graphic produced is automaticaly
copyrighted by me.
The ones shown are hand cut and hand printed
from Linoleum, hardwood and zinc plates.
When I do historic restoration for heritage sites
I always ask if there are any old keys & locks that are for
sale or which can be applied for my fee’s.
Plus the other trades people on site have contacts or leads
to finding old hardware

The print of the skulls are shown with a Cathedral Key
from a demolished site. Several Stainglass windows were taken
by the Lawyer and placed in his house.

Brian ………………………………………….

emy12

Yeah I know I started collecting the keys then I found out that I actually could sell them. First was just buy by because I like them then sell sell sell because people buy them. I didnt really know the value of the keys so the first year I sold all the original ,really old and Unique for a ok price, then I found that the same person sold each of my keys 10 times more 🙁:

Any way, I have one that is handmade ,from brass ..attaching the photo .Also, I am attaching the photo of one of the keys with the name of the person .

I dont kno if the brass is just coated in brass or 100% brass. Again, have no clue :-)

emy12

By the way not all shown in the photo are antique…some of them are young as 40 years old. Only the large ones are 75-100 years old

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

Gerry wrote
hi doug,

which century you want to see, especially?

Wow, those are mostly pre=midieval aren’t they? Very nice.
BBE.

[unknown]

Gerry

yes thats right,
there are a lot older than 800 years.

it is a small cutout

Brian Denyer

Hi emy12

Take a magnet and touch the key in question.
And if the key is pnly brass plated it will be lifted by the attraction to the base steel underneath.

Brian…………………………