Nov 12, 2009
Nov 12, 2009
Nov 12, 2009

Key

Key

AD 1–100

Iron tang, bronze handle

Overall: 15.6 cm (6 1/8 in.)

John L. Severance Fund 1952.586

Location

Did you know?

The bronze handle of this key combines three heads: of a boar, Mercury, and Silvanus.

Description

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.

See also
Collection: 
GR - Roman
Department: 
Greek and Roman Art
Type of artwork: 
Metalwork

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.