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Description: | A medieval copper alloy rotary key. The bow is broadly lozenge shaped in plan, and consists of five circular perforations, the smallest approximately at the centre, with larger perforations in the four corners. The two largest perforations are in line with the shank. Whilst broadly lozenge shaped in plan, the external edges of the bow are rounded, following the curves of the internal circular perforations. Where the curved lines meet (approximately in the centre of each side of the lozenge), there are double grooves. There is a knop at the terminal of the bow. The shank is ovoid rather than circular in section and flares to form a distinct collar where it joins the bow. This collar may have some transverse linear grooving, but the condition of the metal at this point makes this rather indistinct. The shank has a central perforation within its terminal above the large bit. The bit has three clefts between the four wards, all of which are transverse to the shank. One face of the bit has two channels and the other has one channel, all of which are offset from one another. The bit is joined to the shank on only 15.1mm of its 24.8mm length, the two being separated by a 2.4mm wide cleft at the terminal of the shank.
The key weights 72.14 g. It is 129.9mm long, with a maximum width of 31.1mm (across the bow) and a maximum of 9.1mm thick (at the bit). The rotary key has a smooth green patina, but on some areas a corroded, lighter green powdery pitted surface is present. There is also some soil on the key.
In he Museum of London's ??Medieval Catalogue" (1940 p133-144), Ward Perkins has introduced a classification system for door and chest keys. The key described in this record is most closely related to his Type VI. Ward Perkins describes the type: ??They are characterized by the solid shank, bored at the end to leave a conical hole, by the massive bit, and by the elaborate form of the bow. The latter may be lobed or lozenge-shaped or a combination of both, and occasionally the corners of the lozenge are elaborated???? (p140). Ward Perkins dates a number of closely related copper alloy keys of Type VI to the 14th and 15th centuries, and this may be an appropriate date range for this key. | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Slarke, Duncan - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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