Object Notes

Made of polished iron, this beautiful door knocker is a fine example of French 18th-century metalworking. The knocker itself is wrought iron and consists of two confronted C-scrolls and a turned ball strike. The knocker was shaped on an anvil with hammers and the backplate was cut from sheet iron.

Since the Renaissance, keys as well as locks have often been regarded as works of art. The French architect Jacques Androuet Ducereau, who died c. 1585, was the first to publish designs for keys. The art of the locksmith reached its height in France during the first half of the 17th century under King Louis XIII who, in his teens, enjoyed working at the smith's forge and bench.

Miniature strongboxes like this example were popular among Europe's wealthy. Because they were made of iron, yet were relatively lightweight and featured a carrying ring, they provided a safe repository for coins, documents, and jewels that could be taken on journeys. This example has the added security feature of being two-faced. One side has the true hasp, the other a false one.

Since the Renaissance, keys as well as locks have often been regarded as works of art. The French architect Jacques Androuet Ducereau, who died c. 1585, was the first to publish designs for keys. The art of the locksmith reached its height in France during the first half of the 17th century under King Louis XIII who, in his teens, enjoyed working at the smith's forge and bench.

Since the Renaissance, keys as well as locks have often been regarded as works of art. The French architect Jacques Androuet Ducereau, who died c. 1585, was the first to publish designs for keys. The art of the locksmith reached its height in France during the first half of the 17th century under King Louis XIII who, in his teens, enjoyed working at the smith's forge and bench.

Since the Renaissance, keys as well as locks have often been regarded as works of art. The French architect Jacques Androuet Ducereau, who died c. 1585, was the first to publish designs for keys. The art of the locksmith reached its height in France during the first half of the 17th century under King Louis XIII who, in his teens, enjoyed working at the smith's forge and bench.

Since the Renaissance, keys as well as locks have often been regarded as works of art. The French architect Jacques Androuet Ducereau, who died c. 1585, was the first to publish designs for keys. The art of the locksmith reached its height in France during the first half of the 17th century under King Louis XIII who, in his teens, enjoyed working at the smith's forge and bench.

Since the Renaissance, keys as well as locks have often been regarded as works of art. The French architect Jacques Androuet Ducereau, who died c. 1585, was the first to publish designs for keys. The art of the locksmith reached its height in France during the first half of the 17th century under King Louis XIII who, in his teens, enjoyed working at the smith's forge and bench.

Since the Renaissance, keys as well as locks have often been regarded as works of art. The French architect Jacques Androuet Ducereau, who died c. 1585, was the first to publish designs for keys. The art of the locksmith reached its height in France during the first half of the 17th century under King Louis XIII who, in his teens, enjoyed working at the smith's forge and bench.

Since the Renaissance, keys as well as locks have often been regarded as works of art. The French architect Jacques Androuet Ducereau, who died c. 1585, was the first to publish designs for keys. The art of the locksmith reached its height in France during the first half of the 17th century under King Louis XIII who, in his teens, enjoyed working at the smith's forge and bench.