Antique Brass Key With French Tassel - Navy / Gold #3

This exquisite antique skeleton key paired with its original French silk tassel is a small object of everyday history elevated into art. Likely dating to the late 19th century, the key would have once secured the drawers or doors of a finely crafted piece of furniture — a secrétaire, armoire, or writing desk — objects that themselves held a household’s treasures and correspondence.

The iron key features a delicately worked bow with scrolling ornament, showing the craftsmanship lavished even upon utilitarian objects during the period. Its surface has developed a soft patina from decades of touch, a tactile reminder of the countless times it was turned in its lock.

Attached to the key is a silk passementerie tassel in rich navy and gold. Tassels such as this were not merely decorative; in France they were traditional accessories for cabinet and desk keys, both cushioning their swing against the wood and adding a flourish of elegance to everyday rituals. The colors — deep blue with metallic gold accents — suggest formality and refinement, echoing the grandeur of the French decorative arts.

Together, key and tassel create a pairing that embodies both the practicality and ornament of 19th-century domestic life.