A rare 18th century German gilt bronze chamberlain's key

A rare 18th century German gilt bronze chamberlain's key, the pierced bow with a crown surmount with an orb finial above a monogram and flanked by lions above a cartouche centred with a coat of arms, 18.5cm long.

See Henry Rene D'Allemagne, Deocorative Antique Ironwork, p.90 for an almost identical example.

The holder was an archbishop and Elector from "Kur-Trier". Trier is a city in Germany. For literature see DUWE Georg: Erzkammerer, und ihre Schuussel. Osnabruck 1990.

With thanks to The Hon William Wallace for cataloguing this lot.