Painted cast iron horsehead nameplate by Hubley, intended for use on a stable door, probably at a racetrack or horse farm. Two screws are meant to hold an engraved nameplate to the horseshoe. This would make a great name plate on the front door of a home.

Origin: America, c. 1920. Condition: excellent, less than 5% paint loss. Size: 8" x 4" x 3" deep.

Cast iron horse head hitch pair painted black with excellent patina and preservation for their ages which we estimate to date to the 19th C. Unmarked. These horse heads would be fantastic garden conversation pieces. Dimensions: 13" h

A pair of antique hand wrought iron Fire Breathing Dragon Andirons. Measure about 18" by 9 1/4" and weigh about six pounds. Rare and unique.

A rare folding key, probably British, and late 18th/19th. century.

This type of key is of course a 'must have' for serious Key and Lock collectors and quite difficult to find on the market.

Size: 196 mm. when opened and 113 mm. closed, making it a very large key of the type.

Condition: Good Very fine, excellent metal with minor rust and black patina.

Reff...

Interesting slim design iron key, came with the Roman and early medieval keys, but probably c. 17th. century.

Condition: Nice VF, excellent metal.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

An interesting small collection of 11 iron keys and different sizes, c. 17th. century, some perhaps slight later.

Lot includes several late 16th. century - 17th. century Gothic types for cupboards and passage doors as well as smaller 17th.-18th. century types.

Size: 10,7 cm. max and smaller.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

A superb early vault or bankboks key in exceptional condition, still with the original blueing of the steel, late 17th. century.

Though relatively short the key is very substantial in hand and finely made, perhaps by a gunmaker. The stem is short and fluted, hollow made and the bit very sturdy with cut slots. Such a stem was a new invention for security keys in the period, making it much, much harder to copy.

Size: 90 mm...

Interesting and attractive large key for a money chest, probably Italian c. 17th. century.

The key finely made sturdy design with a heart-shaped bow and a strong complex bit, solid stem.

Size: 13,8 cm.

Ex. Danish Collection of mainly iron keys - from the Roman period to the 17th. century.

A rare iron cut monogram with nail from the royal armory of King Christian the V (1670-1699), with his crowned C5 and dated 1691.

Such nail would be hammered into wooden wheels for guns or wagons in the 17th. century.

Size: Substantial and heavy, 5 cm. long and 4,2 cm. wide.

Ex. Old Danish Collection of early metal antiques from europe.

Exceptional cast iron English firebasket.

A very rare huge early vault or bankboks key, late 17th. century.

A massive key with a huge bit. Finely made, perhaps by a gunmaker. The hollow stem is long and fluted, and with a very large and elaborately made bit. Such a stem was a new invention for security keys in the period, making it much, much harder to copy. The bow compressed and with Gothic style decoration along the stem.

Size: Near 18 cm...

I have seen weapons such as this one described as everything from ancient Roman, Celtic and Chinese to medieval and on and on. Though I have been unable to find much in the way of references, I am fairly certain that this spear and others like it are ceremonial polearms from the Qing Dynasty. They are most likely 18th or 19th century. They have crudely decorated brass collars between the socket and blade. This one and the three others I have listed are in good condition with no signs of repair...

A wonderful late 19th or very early 20th century sheet iron weathervane in the form of a sperm whale silhouette. The vane is hand sawn and retains its old coat of oxidized green paint (may be original, but appears to be a second coat). One side still has its black painted eye. The silhouette is attached to its original copper mounting pole. Found in Maine.

Origin: America, ca. 1900...

Painted cast iron dog paperweight, probably by Hubley.

Origin: America, c. 1920. Condition: good, about 10% paint loss. Size: 1-5/8" tall.

An American Hand Wrought Iron Candle Stand on a Tripod Base. Brown paint. Circa 1890-1915. Dimensions; 50" high x 20" deep x 13" wide. Very good condition.

A very beautiful late renaissance to early Baroque door lock plate, probably german or Northern Europe, c. late 16th.-early 17th. century.

Fine openwork style iron wrought and cut and nicely etched with floral decorations.

Size: 24,5 cm. long.

Ex. Danish Collection of keys.

Interesting study collection of 16 miniature keys, each quite rarely seen since these would have been lost due to their small sizes, mostly 18th.-19th. century, a few probably 17th. century.

Such keys would have been used to unlock very small boxes and tiny coffins in the old days.

Sizes: 19-37 mm.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

If fireplaces long ago were considered romantic, this fireplace summer cover is undoubtedly the reason for such nostalgia. This cast iron masterpiece features the god Mercury holding a torch, atop a basket of flowers, framed with scrolling baroque devices. I date this summer cover to mid 19th C...