Posted 3 years ago
matrixman
(1 item)
found in shallow waters, underwater near the coast of an island in central philippines.
*********Please inform us if any knowledge about this type of item***********
from all we could find is likely 19th century, american or spanish. was typical on strong boxes, desk drawers or furniture.
the shaft size of the key is as big as a mans little finger, 17mm hole size. Thats a BIG KEY! so the mystery is, what was so valuable to require such a hige lock, and be so important to justify gold plating the keyhole cover. Maybe from a ship, but what type of ship used gold plated fixtures on its cabinetry or furniture??? Does anyone recognise this design?
please comment with any ideas about what style it comes from, what it was on or when it is from
The shape is called a quatrefoil. Yous is specifically called a "Barbed quatrefoil".
"The "barbed quatrefoil" is similar to a quatrefoil but notched at the angles with an inscribed square. The earliest example of a barbed quatrefoil appeared in 1260 on Notre Dame in Paris."
MANY cultures have used it.
https://www.lynn-byrne.com/posts/design-dictionary-quatrefoil
It looks modern to me. I looks molded in a mold. The screw holes are too sharp and look like they were never used.
thanks!
being the islands were occupied by the Spanish from 16th to 19th century i thought it maybe spanish. i have seen some house porch and window arches with the same design here. It was definitely molded, i agree and unused it appears but very odd to find underwater. a keyhole cover is nobig surprise but GOLD plated? and such a huge shaft size, it was meant for something very strong. Marine application? more questions haha
notice the back has a reddish border around the hole, it looks like was used because can see the contact area where the iron in the lock was touching the cover for. The holes do look too good, but if bolted instead of screwed then wouldn't have scratches maybe
got more info regarding its religious symbolisms used on crosses and other things to represent resurrection.
other meanings were good fortune, fertility, power
since this area was the first area reached by magellan, seems plausable that it may be related to a spanish church door or offering box. Gold plating possibly meant high end or holy things contained behind security.