Key
Unknown Artist
1st–4th century
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
Overall: 3 9/16 x 1 3/16 x 1 in. (9 x 3 x 2.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Copper alloy
Culture
Roman
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1910
Accession Number
10.100.156
Art Historical Context
This unassuming copper alloy key, crafted by an unknown Roman artisan between the 1st 4th centuries AD offers a glimpse into the everyday ingenuity of ancient Rome. Measuring just 3 9/16 x 1 3/16 x 1 inches, it exemplifies the practical metalwork that secured homes, temples, and treasures across the empire. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1910 housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Art department, this artifact bridges late Roman daily life and early medieval transitions. Roman keys like this one were vital for personal security in an expanding empire, often featuring tumbler...