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Ancient Keys and Fasteners

A collection of antique keys and fasteners made from metal, showcasing historical designs and craftsmanship from ancient times.

Key, c. 1500 - c. 1600 Key with bean -shaped eye and small crochet -shaped beard. The shaft runs past the beard. iron (metal) Key with bean -shaped eye and small crochet -shaped beard. The shaft runs past the beard. iron (metal)
Key, c. 1500 - c. 1600 Key with bean -shaped eye and small crochet -shaped beard. The shaft runs past the beard. iron (metal) Key with bean -shaped eye and small crochet -shaped beard. The shaft runs past the beard. iron (metal)
227 assets in this story
Genie lamp with a white backgroundChinese Scholar with Fan (Inrō/Ojime/Netsuke Ensemble). Japan, 17th century. Costumes; Accessories. inrō Gold fundame lacquer ground, gold takamakie over black lacquer, and inlays of tortoise shell; ojime (gilt?) metal; netsuke wood with traces of red and black lacquerShamisen 1891 Takechi Matsukawa One of a matching set of 3 stringed instruments that are decorated with a laquered design showing roosters and flowers. The biwa and shamisen (called samisen in Kyoto and Osaka) both use triangular-shaped plectrum, called bachi, while the koto is plucked with picks (tsumi) worn on the fingers. These instruments were not intended to be played, but were probably made as decorative gifts. See also 69.271.1 (biwa) and 69.271.3 (koto). Shamisen 503054Trident (palmas) and Rattle 19th century Native American (Pueblo, probably Hopi). Trident (palmas) and Rattle. Native American (Pueblo, probably Hopi). 19th century. Wood, gourd, rawhide, sinew, pebbles. New Mexico, United States. Idiophone-Shaken-rattleGermany, Hessen, Frankfurt, Work tool in factoryMiniature key. Miniature key with clover sheet-shaped eye, up in a crown finish.Half squeeze shear with broad, tapering leaf and oval eye, pinch cutter scissor cutting tool soil finds iron metal, Half of iron pinch cutters with decorated leg. Curved cutting blades with straight cutting planes Signed, square stamp field under star archeology Rotterdam City Triangle Delftware cut archaeological find in the soil Delftse Vaart 1928.Dilators #1, Medical - Antique Surgical InstrumentsNecklace. Dated: 1935/1942. Dimensions: overall: 38 x 30.4 cm (14 15/16 x 11 15/16 in.). Medium: watercolor and graphite on paperboard. Museum: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Author: John H. Tercuzzi.Bangle 304 B.C.-A.D. 364 Ptolemaic or Roman Period. Bangle. 304 B.C.-A.D. 364. Silver. Ptolemaic or Roman Period. From Egypt, Central Delta, Tell el-Balamun (Diospolis Inferior), Carnarvon/Carter excavations, 1913Snaphaunce Lock 17th century Italian. Snaphaunce Lock 27949Model Artillery with Field Carriage. Master Dodemont of Normandy French, active mid-16th century. Date: 1580-1600. Dimensions: Barrel: 67.8 cm (26 11/16 in.)Overall 35.7 × 109.2 × 33.7 cm (14 × 43 × 13 1/4 in.) Caliber: 2.3 cm (15/16 in.)Left cheek to end of trail: 81.5 cm (32 1/8 in.)Width at cheek: 12.1 cm (4 3/4 in.)Width at trail: 18.1 cm (7 1/8 in.)Diameter of wheel: 30.2 cm (11 7/8 in.)Distance between outer side of hubs: 37.5 cm (14 3/4 in.)Distance between mounted cannon muzzle and end of trail: 112.3 cm (44 3/16 in.)Weight of cannon: 20 lb. 1 oz.Weight of carriage: 21 lb. 4 oz. Bronze, wood, and iron. Origin: France. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.ASTROLABIO DE FELIPE II -1598-. Location: MUSEO NAVAL / MINISTERIO DE MARINA. MADRID. SPAIN.Clock, Fetil, 1807 Watch in a cupboard in the shape of a pear. Decorated with email paintings, representing 'scenes galantes'. Paris (possibly) . Watch in a cupboard in the shape of a pear. Decorated with email paintings, representing 'scenes galantes'. Paris (possibly) .Watch ca. 1620-25 Movement by James Vautrollier James Vautrollier was one of sixteen craftsmen who in 1622 petitioned King James I for a charter to form a company of clockmakers inLondon. The decorative border around the edge of the back plate of the movement is typical of English watches of the earlier part ofthe seventeenth century. Other features typical of the period are the pinning of the decorative cock for the balance to a tenon projectingfrom the plate, and the steel ratchet and click device that is used to regulate the mainspring. The case is engraved with a scene of theAdoration of the Magi.. Watch. British, London. ca. 1620-25. Case: silver, partly gilded, and gilded brass; Movement: gilded brass and steel, partly blued. HorologyEye of Horus (Wedjat) Amulet 1985 BCE-1773 BCE Egypt. Carnelian . Ancient EgyptianWrenchCutlery fork, knife and spoon on a dark textured concrete background Cutlery fork, knife and spoon on a dark textured concrete background. Kitchen items and accessories Copyright: xZoonar.com/TetianaxChernykovax 21852745BRONZE HYDRAULIC PUMP. ROMAN ENGINEERING. (LOCATION: NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM).Sword and Scabbard. Dated: 1935/1942. Dimensions: overall: 13 x 15.8 cm (5 1/8 x 6 1/4 in.). Medium: watercolor and graphite on paperboard. Museum: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Author: American 20th Century.Magnetite or Lodestone is Iron Ore Showing Magnetic Properties, Kiruna, Sweden, EuropeCopper piping on a wallThe Cuerdale Hoard; part of a Viking silver hoard found in a lead chest beside the River Ribble at Cuerdale, Lancashire. Consisting of around 7500 coins and 1200 pieces of bullion. 905 ADAfrica, Gambia, Banjul. Traditional iron spearheads displayed in a museum.Pledget and cotton hank (used for ship caulking), mallet and chisels (used for applying tow in ship caulking). Maritime Museum. Lisbon, Portugal.Molds of SpoonHandleAnonymous, Tunisia campaign clip 1942-1943 (Emile Welter. QG 97 train DCR 397th Cie) for the colonial medal (title awarded), 1945. Silver metal welded. General Leclerc Museum of the Liberation of Paris - Jean Moulin Museum.