The 'Strozzi' key
Key
1550-1650 (made)
1550-1650 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This key has long been known as the 'Strozzi key', famous for its association with Diane de Poitiers, mistress to Henri III of France. It allegedly allowed Diane access to the king's private apartments. The key is a fine example of Renaissance design applied to ironwork.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The 'Strozzi' key (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Steel, pierced and chiselled |
| Brief description | Steel, chiselled, decorated with an elaborate bow consisting of winged female monsters, back to back. France, 1550-60. |
| Physical description | The bow or handle of the key is formed by two winged female monsters back to back supporting an entablature. It is joined to the pipe by a composite capital. The bit is flanged and finely cut, like a comb. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by D. M. Currie |
| Object history | Famous in the 19th century, and bought by one of the Rothschild family for a large sum of money. Its name presumably derives in some way from the Strozzi palace in Florence, but in the 19th century it was alleged to have admitted Diane de Poitiers to the apartments of the French King Henri III, her mistress. |
| Historical context | Finely worked locks and keys were objects of high status, owned by the Renaissance elite. |
| Production | Known as the 'Strozzi' key, this was alleged to have admitted King Henri III's mistress, Diane de Poitiers, to his private apartments. |
| Summary | This key has long been known as the 'Strozzi key', famous for its association with Diane de Poitiers, mistress to Henri III of France. It allegedly allowed Diane access to the king's private apartments. The key is a fine example of Renaissance design applied to ironwork. |
| Bibliographic reference | Campbell, Marian, Decorative Ironwork, London: HMSO, 1985, 23 p. plate 16e
Manfred Welker in Pessiot, Marie, ed., La Fidele Ouverture ou l'art du serrurier , Rouen 2007, 50-51 p. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.137-1921 |
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| Record created | August 14, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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