Beschrijving

Antieke Romeinse grote bronzen sleutel uit de 2e–4e eeuw na Christus, circa 85 mm lang, in goede staat met olivegroene patina, aangekocht in 2024 bij een dealer op een beurs in België.



Let op: vanwege douanevoorschriften kunnen we uitsluitend binnen de Europese Unie verzenden. Zorg ervoor dat u een geldig EUverzendadres heeft voordat u biedt.

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.

Lengte: ± 85,1 mm
Conditie: goede, solide toestand. De oppervlakte vertoont een gelijkmatige gladde olijfgroene patine met lichte oppervlakteslijtage en encrustatie die overeenkomt met leeftijd en gebruik.

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.


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    Sinds 21 feb '26
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