Antique Key with Tassel A

Antique French Iron Key
4” length key, tied tassel hangs 5.5"

Description
Antique French iron key with a simple barrel shaft and double-cut bit. Beautiful natural patina with soft surface wear consistent with age. Solid and substantial in hand.

Finished with a new silk tassel sourced from the oldest passementerie house in Paris — a quiet nod to French decorative tradition layered onto utilitarian history.

Styling
Drape over a stack of antique books. Hang from a cabinet knob. Layer into a vignette with gilt frames or marble. It adds movement and softness while keeping the integrity of the original object intact.

The contrast of aged iron and classic French passementerie makes this feel intentional rather than precious.

Context
Keys like this were typically used for interior doors, armoires, or chests in the 19th century. The rounded bow and machine-cut bit suggest 19th-century production rather than earlier hand-forged examples.

Passementerie — the art of decorative trimmings — has been central to French interiors for centuries, used in upholstery, drapery, and ceremonial decoration. Pairing it with an architectural key bridges France’s industrial and decorative histories in a subtle way.