Key
Unknown Artist
1st–7th century
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
Overall: 3 x 1 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. (7.6 x 3.2 x 3.8 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Bronze
Culture
Roman
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, De Souhami Collection, Rogers Fund, 1906
Accession Number
06.176.68
Art Historical Context
This unassuming copper alloy key, crafted by an unknown Roman artisan between the 1st and 7th centuries offers a tangible glimpse into everyday life during the late Roman Empire and early medieval transition. Measuring just 3 x 1¼ x 1½ inches, its compact size suggests it secured personal belongings like chests, doors, or jewelry boxes—essential tools in a world where locks protected wealth and privacy amid expanding trade and urban growth. Forged from durable copper alloy, akin to bronze, this metalwork exemplifies Roman technical prowess in casting and finishing, techniques refined over cen...