Armada chest

sketchfab

Armada Chest, Nuremberg, 17th century, polychrome iron. Musée du Cinquantenaire (Brussels, Belgium). Made with ReMake and ReCap from AutoDesk. In the 1600s, Nuremberg locksmiths became experts at crafting unbreakable polychrome iron safes. Their fame spread across Europe as these safes were prized for their inviolability. Safes measuring just a few centimeters long served as jewelry boxes, while larger ones reaching up to two meters in length stored valuable assets in banks and chanceries. The closing mechanism often dominated the entire cover, accessible only through a concealed lock on top. A key operated this lock, cleverly disguised on the front of the safe. This decoy lock was frequently lost or destroyed, making this copy a highly sought-after treasure. The term "armada chest" originated from a mistaken notion that these safes were used on Spanish ships to store funds for the Armada's 1588 campaigns. For more updates, follow @GeoffreyMarchal on Twitter.