Mittelalterlich Außergewöhnlicher Filigran-Schlüssel (Clavis) – Vier kreuzförmige Motive – Sammlerstück (Ohne mindestpreis)

Wear piece of history, not just jewerly

Exceptional Medieval Openwork Key (Clavis) – Cruciform Geometric Design – 14th–15th Century AD – Collector’s Piece

Object Type: Openwork Key (Clavis)
Cultural Attribution: Medieval European
Period: Medieval, Medieval, c. 11th–13th Century AD
Material: Metal Alloy
Manufacturing Technique: Casting and Openwork Metalworking
Morphology: Rectangular Bit with Elongated Apertures and Longitudinally Slotted Shank

Dimensions:
Height: 38.09 mm ±
Width : 21.21 mm ±
Weight: 9.02 g ±

A Cultural and Iconographic Assessment Certificate can be requested in PDF format prior to dispatch, every shipment is fully insured, the photographs were taken under warm, museum-inspired lighting to present the object's surface and historical character naturally, and any cords, attachment rings or other accessories visible in the images serve exclusively as display aids and are not included with the artefact.

Description
This remarkable metal-alloy key (clavis) is distinguished by its elaborate openwork construction and an unusual geometric composition incorporating four clearly defined cruciform apertures. The arrangement gives the object a striking architectural character and makes the four crosses the principal visual feature of its design.

The broad, rectangular bit is divided by elongated vertical openings that terminate in four cross-shaped perforations (cruces). Their deliberate repetition establishes a balanced ornamental rhythm, combining pierced metalwork with a complex structural configuration. The elongated shank incorporates a longitudinal slot and a projecting terminal, further contributing to the object's distinctive morphology.

Within medieval locksmithing, the configuration of a key's bit was related to the internal wards and other components of a lock (serratura). The four cruciform openings may therefore be considered in relation to both the mechanical arrangement and the decorative treatment of the object. Their precise technical role cannot be established from visual examination alone.

The repeated cross (crux) was a prominent motif in medieval Christian visual culture. Here, the presence of four crosses within a single geometric composition provides an additional iconographic point of interest. Nevertheless, their arrangement does not, by itself, establish a devotional purpose or a specific Christian symbolic interpretation.

The key's substantial construction, unusual silhouette and carefully articulated four-cross design distinguish it from conventional medieval key forms. The relationship between its functional structure and ornamental openwork makes it a compelling collector's piece within the fields of medieval metalwork and historical locksmithing.

The surface retains extensive age-related patination, deposits and traces of historical wear. The principal structural elements and all four cruciform apertures remain clearly discernible, preserving the character of its original design..

Information
The presentation and sale of this object are conducted in accordance with principles of transparency, scholarly consistency, and good faith, and no object is knowingly presented as a copy or imitation. The object has been documented using high-resolution imaging equipment, with its physical structure and form left entirely unaltered; only limited color-balance adjustments have been applied to ensure visual accuracy.

As high-resolution imagery may influence the perception of scale, the photographs should always be considered together with the stated measurements. All statements concerning dating, intended function, symbolic or iconographic interpretation, and material identification represent high-probability academic assessments based on typological analysis, comparative examples from museum collections, and expert opinion; definitive verification would require advanced laboratory analysis beyond the scope of the sales process.

Upon request prior to shipment, a signed ownership document issued in the buyer’s name, together with an independent expert evaluation report, may also be provided in PDF format.