Key Handle
Unknown Artist
1st–7th century
Medium
Copper alloy, iron
Dimensions
Overall: 2 9/16 x 13/16 in. (6.5 x 2.1 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Copper alloy
Culture
Roman
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, De Souhami Collection, Rogers Fund, 1906
Accession Number
06.176.30
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Key Handle*, crafted from copper alloy and iron by an unknown Roman artisan between the 1st and 7th centuries, offers a glimpse into the everyday ingenuity of the ancient world. Measuring just 2 9/16 x 13/16 inches (6.5 x 2.1 cm), its compact form belies its practical purpose: likely part of a larger key used to secure doors, chests, or sacred spaces in Roman households and temples. Displayed in the Medieval Art department of the Metropolitan of Art—acquired in 1906 through the Souhami Collection and Fund—this artifact bridges the late Roman Empire and early medieval periods. ...