Sleutel
Unknown Artist
ca. 1700
Medium
iron (metal)
Dimensions
5.5; 13.9
About this artwork
length 13.9 cm x width 5.5 cm
Art Historical Context
### Sleutel (Key) Step into the 18th century with *Sleutel*, a crafted iron key dating to around 1700. Measuring 13.9 cm in and 5.5 cm in width, this unassuming artifact exemplifies the everyday craftsmanship of the Baroque era. Produced by an unknown artisan, its modest dimensions suggest it was designed for practical use—perhaps securing a door, chest, or gate in a Dutch household or workshop, as "sleutel" means "key" in DutchIron was the workhorse metal of the time, forged through labor-intensive blacksmithing techniques that involved heating, hammering, and shaping raw metal over an anvil...