Key Handle
Unknown Artist
1st–7th century
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
Overall: 1 5/16 x 1 x 11/16 in. (3.3 x 2.6 x 1.8 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
06.176.44
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Key Handle**, crafted from copper alloy (likely bronze) by an unknown Roman artisan between the 1st and 7th centuries, offers a glimpse into the everyday artistry of the late Roman world. Measuring just 1 5/16 x 1 x 11/16 inches, this petite metalwork piece would have adorned the end of a functional key, a practical tool into a symbol of status and craftsmanship. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in1906 through the De Souhami Collection and Fund, it resides in the Medieval Art department bridging the gap between classical antiquity and the early medieval era. In Roman...