Key

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of medieval Germany with this striking 14th-century iron, a testament to the era's masterful metalwork. Measuring a sturdy 6 1/8 x 2 1/8 x 9/16 inches, this functional yet artful object was crafted by an unknown artisan, highlighting the skill of blacksmiths who turned raw iron into symbols of power and security. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Medieval Art departmentacquired through the Rogers Fund in 0—it exemplifies everyday items preserved as cultural treasures. In the late Middle Ages, keys like this one were far more than tools; they represented authority, gu...