Key
AD 1–100
Maker Unknown
Greek and Roman Art
Key, AD 1–100. Italy, Roman, 1st Century. Iron tang, bronze handle; overall: 15.6 cm (6 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1952.586 Cleverly designed with an iron bit attached to a bronze handle, this key can be admired from all angles. While the handle terminates in the head of a ferocious boar, farther down are back-to-back heads of Mercury—his wings formed from the ears of the boar—and his goat-legged, horned son, Silvanus (also known as Pan). Given the rustic nature of the heads, scholars have suggested that the key might once have unlocked a country villa. The bronze handle of this key combines three heads: of a boar, Mercury, and Silvanus.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Metalwork
- Formatted Medium
- iron tang, bronze handle
- Dimensions
- Overall: 15.6 cm (6 1/8 in.)
- Departments
- Greek and Roman Art
- Accession Number
- 1952.586
- Credit Line
- John L. Severance Fund
- Rights Statement
- CC0
- Museum Location
- 103 Roman
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