- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Iron key with circular bow, tubular stem and bit shaped like a triple 'Z'.
- Geographical reference
- Cultural groups
- German
- Date / Period
- Date made: 1701 - 1800
- Date collected
- By 1922
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1950
- Materials and processes
- Material Iron Metal, Process Forged (Metal)
- Dimensions
- Length: max 129 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1951.13.575 Other numbers: 575
- Research and responses
Related Documents File - i) Correspondence from Catherine E. Parsons to Beatrice Blackwood (1950 - 1955) regarding Parsons' collection and arrangements scheduled for Blackwood to view the keys and to retrieve documentation. Excerpt from letter to Blackwood: 'Please remember my keys and their catalogue were made simply for my own interest years ago. I never thought of it becoming public.' RDF also includes a number of letters from Mary Mallyon, informing Blackwood of Parsons' death (1956), and organizing for her to collect: 'the keys for the museum that Miss Parsons kept back when you took the others'. ii) Four photographs of Catherine E. Parsons, including one labelled 'Miss Parsons & niece'. iii) Catalogue of the Collection of Locks and Keys made by Catherine E. Parsons [original manuscript]. [GI 5/2/2002]
This iron key was studied during a meeting of the European Lock Collectors Association in September 2023. It was identified as a German key for a chest or door and dates from the 18th century. The key is not a 17th century English piece as previously catalogued. Note that if the ferrule at the end of the stem is in the form of a ball, it is always an 18th century key. Information provided by Martina Pall, an expert in locks, keys, boxes, cassettes, chests and cast iron (https://www.martina-pall.com/).
1951.13.575
Iron key with circular bow, tubular stem and bit shaped like a triple 'Z'.
On display
1951.13.575
Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford
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