Key guide

Central Europe, 15th–16th century

Malleable iron wire hammered into a stylised fleur-de-lis. Attached to a centre trefoil washer made of hammered sheet.

H: 15 cm

UMP 3130

Three-dimensional key guides were designed to help steer the key into the keyhole, but over time the basic, simple curved wire became an intricately decorative element. Naturalistic representations of flora were the primary ornamentation used on Early Gothic objects, but over time the forms became more stylised and simplified. Popular motifs of grape leaves with grapes, fig leaves, marigold leaves, parsley, and maple leaves were often supplemented with heraldic fleurs-de-lis.

C Key guide