Skip to content
Pitt Rivers Museum

1951.13.959

Bronze key with lozenge-shaped bow (top broken off), tubular stem and bit with a double row of teeth. [El.B 10/03/2009]


1951.13.959

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

Terms and Conditions

If you wish to order a high-resolution image and/or licence its use for print or web publication, exhibition, film, promotional product or any other use, whether in the academic or commercial sector of any print run, then please visit photographic services.

Collection type
Object
Description
Bronze key with lozenge-shaped bow (top broken off), tubular stem and bit with a double row of teeth. [El.B 10/03/2009]
Cultural groups
English
Person
Maker Unknown Maker
Field collector Mr Morten
PRM source Catherine Elizabeth Parsons
Date / Period
Date made: 500-1500 Archaeological period: Medieval
Date collected
By 1925
Acquisition information
Donated: 1950
Materials and processes
Material Bronze Metal, Process Forged (Metal)
Dimensions
Length: max 102 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1951.13.959 Other numbers: 959
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]

Related Documents File - typed card found in the drawer, but not with a particular object: "Mediaeval bronze keys with lozenge-shaped bows are sometimes called "monastic" keys. They may be chest or coffer keys. They are characteristic of the 13th, 14th and early 15th centuries." [El.B 10/03/2009]

Search terms: Lock, Key