{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O138477"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138477/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NH6452/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NH6452/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NH6452","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NH6454","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NH6455","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NH6453","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HF7359","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HF7356","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HF7358","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HF7357","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EB7738","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O138477/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O138477","accessionNumber":"M.137-1921","objectType":"Key","titles":[{"title":"The 'Strozzi' key","type":"popular title"}],"summaryDescription":"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.","physicalDescription":"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.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"}],"techniques":[{"text":"piercing","id":"AAT231153"},{"text":"chiselling","id":"x44578"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel, pierced and chiselled","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2023NH6452","2023NH6454","2023NH6455","2023NH6453","2014HF7359","2014HF7356","2014HF7358","2014HF7357","2010EB7738"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA010","id":"THES388292"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Key","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1550-1650","earliest":"1550-01-01","latest":"1650-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by D. M. Currie","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"115","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"25/09/2014","earliest":"2014-09-25","latest":"2014-09-25"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"55","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"25/09/2014","earliest":"2014-09-25","latest":"2014-09-25"},"part":"bow to wards","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"25/09/2014","earliest":"2014-09-25","latest":"2014-09-25"},"part":"Bow","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"25/09/2014","earliest":"2014-09-25","latest":"2014-09-25"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"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.","historicalContext":"Finely worked locks and keys were objects of high status, owned by the Renaissance elite.","briefDescription":"Steel, chiselled, decorated with an elaborate bow consisting of winged female monsters, back to back. France, 1550-60. ","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Campbell, Marian,<i> Decorative Ironwork<i/>, London: HMSO, 1985, 23 p. plate 16e\r\nManfred Welker in Pessiot, Marie, ed., <i> La Fidele Ouverture ou l'art du serrurier <i/>, Rouen 2007, 50-51 p."}],"production":"Known as the 'Strozzi' key, this was alleged to have admitted King Henri III's mistress, Diane de Poitiers, to his private apartments.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>The key to the kingdom </b>\n\r\nIf you visit the King of France, this could help you. It’s the key to his palace. You could go anywhere you like and perhaps even unlock secret doors. \n\n<b>The Strozzi key</b> \r\nUnknown maker \r\n1550–60 \r\nFrance \r\nBequeathed by D. M. Currie \r\nMuseum no. M.137-1921 \n\n[Young V&amp;A, Imagine Gallery, Adventure, short object label]","date":{"text":"01/07/2023","earliest":"2023-07-01","latest":"2023-07-01"}},{"text":"KEY\r\nPierced and chiselled steel\r\nCommonly known as the Strozzi Key, and said to have admitted to the private apartments of Henri II.\r\nFrench; second half of the 16th century\r\nD. M. Currie Bequest","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["M.137-1921"],"accessionNumberNum":"137","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1921,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2024-06-10","recordCreationDate":"2007-08-14","availableToBook":false}}