Key or Key Handle
Unknown Artist
1st–7th century
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
Overall: 2 15/16 x 1 9/16 x 11/16 in. (7.5 x 3.9 x 1.7 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
06.176.1
Art Historical Context
This exquisite copper alloy *Key or Key Handle* the 1st–7th century offers a glimpse into everyday Roman life during a transformative era spanning the late Empire to early Byzantine influences. Measuring just under 3 inches long, small yet finely crafted object—likely part of a larger key—highlights the Romans' practical ingenuity in securing homes, treasures, and sacred spaces. Keys were potent symbols of authority and property, often carried by householders or entrusted to slaves, underscoring the society's emphasis on privacy and control amid expanding trade and urbanization. Crafted in du...