Safe. Nuremberg, ca. 1580-1620

German safe deposit box. Nuremberg, late 16th - early 17th century.
Wrought iron, riveted and assembled by hand.
Original lock and key. Mechanism in perfect working order
Measurements: 23 x 35 x 22 cm.

Renaissance wrought iron safe, made in the German city of Nuremberg at the end of the XVI century or beginning of the XVII century, one of the most important metallurgical centers in Europe at that time. These safes were used by merchants, bankers and noble houses to guard money, jewelry, documents and objects of high value.
The box has a solid structure, carefully reinforced with bands of spiked iron arranged in a grid, and decorated with rivets in the shape of a four-petal flower, characteristic of German ornamentation of the period. The lock is presided over by a central keyhole, framed by a diamond-shaped molded plate, which protects a sophisticated internal security mechanism, still in operation and with its original key.
The lid is hinged by two powerful forged hinges, and conceals on its back an intricate locking system, typical of the "Nürnberger Eisenkassetten". In many of these boxes, the complex interweaving of levers and springs was deliberately left visible when the lid was opened, not only for functionality, but also as a demonstration of the craftsman's technical expertise.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Nuremberg was synonymous with technical quality in ironworking. These boxes were not only advanced security devices, but also symbols of economic power and refinement. Their sophisticated engineering made it possible to implement multiple locks that required the joint presence of several people to open, a security measure typical of guilds, town halls and large trading houses.
Examples of this type are preserved in important European museums and decorative art collections, and today they are highly sought after by antique collectors and heritage institutions.