This vintage key assortment is a wonderfully mixed group of old skeleton, barrel, bit, cabinet, furniture, and warded-style keys gathered together on a brass-tone ball chain. The group also includes a real rabbit's foot fob and a worn red Seven Crown plastic key tag.
I like this lot because the keys are not all the same. Some are heavy iron keys with large round bows, some have hollow barrel shafts, some are smaller cabinet or furniture keys, and one is brass-tone.
The different cuts and lengths make the group look like something gathered from drawers, old doors, cabinets, trunks, and furniture over a long period of time. The rust, darkening, and wear belong on keys like these.
Details
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Item: Mixed vintage skeleton and barrel key assortment on ball chain
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Item Type: Vintage household, furniture, cabinet, and warded-style keys
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Era: Mixed vintage age, exact dates not confirmed
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Materials: Iron, steel, brass-tone metal, plastic, ball chain, and real fur rabbit's foot
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Color: Dark iron, silver-tone metal, brass-tone metal, rust brown, red, cream, and natural fur
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Maker and Mark: Individual key makers not confirmed. Red plastic tag is identified as Seven Crown.
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Pattern or Model: Mixed key assortment, no single matching pattern or model
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Style: Antique and vintage utilitarian hardware
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Dimensions: Longest key approximately 3 inches. Smallest key approximately 1 inch.
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Special Features: Multiple key styles, ball chain grouping, real rabbit's foot fob, and broken Seven Crown plastic key tag
Key Types Visible in the Group
- Large iron skeleton key with round bow and long bit
- Large dark steel skeleton key with round bow
- Long rusted iron bit key with decorative rings near the shaft
- Long flat iron warded-style key with stepped bit
- Brass-tone barrel or furniture key with oval bow
- Silver-tone hollow barrel key with round bow
- Short silver-tone cabinet or furniture key
- Small silver-tone barrel key with simple bit
- Small dark steel furniture or cabinet key
- Medium silver-tone skeleton-style key with round bow
- Medium dark steel key with rectangular bit cuts
- Additional small barrel and bit keys nested through the center rings
The exact lock or furniture use of each key cannot be confirmed from the photos alone. Several share forms commonly used for old cabinets, furniture locks, interior doors, trunks, and similar household hardware.
Condition Grade: Good
Positives
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Graded Good: The key assortment is intact as a grouped collectible and includes a wide range of shapes, sizes, and metal finishes.
- The ball chain continues to hold the keys and fobs together.
- Several keys retain strong old surface color and visible bit details.
- The rabbit's foot fob remains attached and recognizable.
Issues / Wear
- The keys show scratches, darkening, oxidation, surface rust, pitting, and finish loss from age and use.
- One long key has heavier rust than the others. I consider this noticeable wear, but it still fits the character of the assortment.
- The rabbit's foot shows age and wear to the fur.
- The red Seven Crown plastic key tag is broken and has heavy edge wear, scratches, and surface loss. This is the most disappointing condition issue in the group.
- No keys have been tested in locks, so their original lock matches are unknown.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Usable or displayable but clearly worn.
Collector's Notes
Old loose keys often survive long after the cabinet, door, trunk, or furniture lock they originally opened has disappeared.
The variety is what makes this group interesting to me. It includes larger skeleton forms, hollow barrel keys, smaller furniture keys, and a brass-tone example rather than a row of identical pieces.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
I do my best to capture colors accurately, but your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Please Note:
These pieces come from estate collections and have been surface cleaned. You may wish to perform additional cleaning depending on your preference.
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