KEY (LOCKING)

A complete hand made iron rotary key of probable medieval date (1150 - 1400 AD).

The key is irregular in plan and cross section. Being made out of iron, it was probably forged. The key can be described in several sections: The bow or handle, shank and bit.

The bow consists of a vertical oval, with a circular cross section. It is 46.6mm tall and 29.3mm wide. The shank is attached to the bow at the mid point of the right hand side. Opposite that on the left hand side, there is a slight swelling on the inside surface.

The shank consists of an rod, rectangular in plan and circular in cross section. It is 96.2mm long and has a diameter of 12.9mm. The shank projects 12.4mm past the end of the bit. Decoration is present on the shank, consisting of a single raised rib, a spherical ball, a double raised rib and then the shank increases (swells) in diameter towards the bit. Just infront of the bit, is another raised rib.

The bit is rectangular in plan and cross section. It extends below the shank 24.5mm and is 22.9mm wide. The wards appear to surround a central opening, the clefts of which appear to be in an inverted 'H' shape.

The key is a dark reddish brown colour and has an even patina. The patina however, is suffering from a degree of lamination, which means it can be easily flaked off from the surface, revealing bare metal underneath. Advice should be sought from an experienced Artefacts Conservator to prevent any further deterioration from occurring and to stablise the artefact. In the short term, the key should be stored in a sealed dry box (tupperware box with silica gel, and acid free tissue) to reduce the risk of more active corrosion from occuring.

The key measures 126.2mm in length, 12.1mm wide and is 46.5mm tall. It weighs 91.3 grams.

A direct parallel for this key has not been found due to the style of the handle. However a number of very similar rotary keys are shown in G. Egan's 'Medieval Households' pages 111-119. From the size of the key and the presence of a solid shank it is likely that the key would have been used to lock a door rather than a casket or chest. Chest locks tend to have a hollow shank and are significantly smaller (ibid: 111). The keys illustrated in this volume are all dated from the late 12th - to late 14th centuries (1150-1400). Therefore a similar date is suggested here for this example.

Reference:

Egan, G. Security Equipment in Egan 1998

Egan, G. 1998 The Medieval Household Daily Living c.1150-c.1450. Medieval finds from Excavations in London 6. London. Museum of London / The Stationery Office.