Iron lantern bow Italian key

Here is something you don't see every day. A key that solde for close to $2,500!

Fine quality steel key with a highly decorative pierced and cut lantern bow and flared bit with many teeth. The key is Italian and is fairly typical in form of a style that was first made in the Renaissance. The photos show the complexity of the key including the nicely cut four-pillared cupola on top of the key and the decoration covering much of the surface of the iron. There is one small braised repair to one of the spokes in one of the circular “windows” on the side of the key – this is just about visible on the photos but the repair has been done so precisely as to be nearly invisible. The key is about 6.5 inches (16cm) long. - eBay (27 Nov 2011)

This key had a high bid of 1,550 British Pounds/$2,430 (Plus 20 Pounds Shipping).

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