Roman chest latch. 1st–2nd centuries A.D.

Roman chest knocker. 1st–2nd century A.D.
Weight: 72 grams.
Length: 117 mm.

Roman door knocker made of copper, part of the locking mechanism for a chest or safe. Its shank features a relief decoration of a Roman lady wearing long robes and styled in the manner of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The upper part features a volute with holes for the pins, and on the back, the rivets that secured it to the box are still visible; the box was presumably also made of bronze, as some fragments of it are still present.