Ancient Roman Bronze Key, large size
06
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€ 1
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 210 - € 250
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Ancient Roman large bronze key dating to the 2nd–4th century AD, about 85 mm long, in good condition with an olive-green patina, acquired in 2024 from a dealer at a fair in Belgium.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Large Roman bronze key decorated with linear decorations and suspension loop in the shape of a crescent moon (Lunula). The shank is flat and slightly tapering, terminating in a right-angled bit with stepped wards designed to engage a warded lock mechanism.
Length: ± 85,1 mm
Condition: good solid condition. The surface bears an even smooth olive-greeen patine with minor surface wear and encrustation consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
ROMAN KEY
Keys were an important tool during the Roman period, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. The Romans developed sophisticated locking mechanisms and keys to secure buildings, valuables, and personal possessions.
Roman keys were typically made of metal (bronze or iron) and varied in size from small, portable keys to larger ones for heavy-duty locks. Some keys were even decorative, reflecting the owner's status.
The Romans advanced the pin-and-tumbler lock, which used pins to secure a bolt. Keys lifted the pins to open the lock, a design similar to modern locks.
The Romans significantly refined the ward lock type key, creating more durable and intricate warded locks made of metal. This type of key used wards (projections inside the lock) to block unauthorized keys while the correct key had corresponding notches to bypass these wards.
Women frequently wore "key rings," which were both functional and symbolic. A woman wearing such a ring was often seen as the keeper of the household and its possessions.
The Romans’ innovations in key and lock design influenced later medieval and modern locking systems. Their ability to craft reliable, functional locks highlighted their ingenuity and understanding of metallurgy.
Keys in Roman times were more than tools; they represented security, status, and the evolving complexity of daily life in the Empire.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Large Roman bronze key decorated with linear decorations and suspension loop in the shape of a crescent moon (Lunula). The shank is flat and slightly tapering, terminating in a right-angled bit with stepped wards designed to engage a warded lock mechanism.
Length: ± 85,1 mm
Condition: good solid condition. The surface bears an even smooth olive-greeen patine with minor surface wear and encrustation consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
ROMAN KEY
Keys were an important tool during the Roman period, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. The Romans developed sophisticated locking mechanisms and keys to secure buildings, valuables, and personal possessions.
Roman keys were typically made of metal (bronze or iron) and varied in size from small, portable keys to larger ones for heavy-duty locks. Some keys were even decorative, reflecting the owner's status.
The Romans advanced the pin-and-tumbler lock, which used pins to secure a bolt. Keys lifted the pins to open the lock, a design similar to modern locks.
The Romans significantly refined the ward lock type key, creating more durable and intricate warded locks made of metal. This type of key used wards (projections inside the lock) to block unauthorized keys while the correct key had corresponding notches to bypass these wards.
Women frequently wore "key rings," which were both functional and symbolic. A woman wearing such a ring was often seen as the keeper of the household and its possessions.
The Romans’ innovations in key and lock design influenced later medieval and modern locking systems. Their ability to craft reliable, functional locks highlighted their ingenuity and understanding of metallurgy.
Keys in Roman times were more than tools; they represented security, status, and the evolving complexity of daily life in the Empire.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/ Timeframe
2nd-4th century AD
Name of object
Key, large size
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2024
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
