Safe Nüremberg

Iron chest, called “privateer” or “nüremberg” germany 17th/18th century large iron chest fitted with riveted protective bars and side pulling handles, a large shield on the front. It opens from the top using a double key lock, on the front - this being a decoy - and on the lid, the latter containing an impressive lock on its entire interior surface. Two legs allow the addition of a bar and two locks, in addition. This type of safe is the ancestor of our modern safes. However, it is designed to be transportable, with its two handles. The double-headed eagle which adorns its facade is a heraldic emblem which informs us about the purpose of this chest. She holds in her claws a hand of justice, and a sword, a reminder of the regal functions of the holy roman empire. The two-headed eagle is found on coins, on the coats of arms of certain cities or regions (franche-comté) which have pledged allegiance to the emperor, heir to the rome of the caesars and to the western half of their empire (l the other half is governed by the basileus, who reigns in byzantium-constantinople, until his fall in 1453: kiev, then moscow, takes over this heritage, becoming "the third rome", and keeping the roman eagle, which has become two-headed since the partition of constantine). The closed crown, a sign of the empire, should be on the head of the eagle, which may be due to an alteration, but more probably to the ironworker's desire not to multiply the embellishments on a piece primarily intended for receiving and parrying blows, during trips or attacks.

Ref. : X9BX3FVJ