Royal Window Latch With A Crowned "f" – Francis I – Château De Chambord – Circa 1500–1515 – 16th Century

An exceptional wrought-iron window bolt from the early 16th century (circa 1500–1515), crafted for the Château de Chambord during the reign of Francis I.

This rare window bolt is one of the most prestigious examples of monumental metalwork from the early French Renaissance. Commissioned for the Château de Chambord, it bears the famous crowned “F,” the personal emblem of Francis I.

Since the Château de Chambord has 365 windows, it is reasonable to assume that approximately 365 window bolts of this type were originally produced. More than five centuries after their creation, the surviving examples have become extremely rare, making this piece an exceptional testament to French royal metalwork.

Two variants of this type are known today:

-the model presented here, the most elaborate, shaped like the letter F, surmounted by a fleur-de-lis crown and accompanied by a leafy branch. The bolt slides through the openwork central bar of the F, from which an elegant pendant hangs;

-a second model, of more understated design, featuring a solid central bar and lacking the leafy branch. An example of this variant is housed at the National Renaissance Museum in Écouen and was displayed at the Château de Chambord during the exhibition “Chambord 1519–2019: Utopia at Work”.

The example offered here can be definitively linked to the one held at the Louvre (inventory no. OA 6957), as they are of the same model. This copy came from the prestigious collection of the Marquise Marie Arconati-Visconti, who donated it to the Louvre in 1916. It was subsequently deposited at the Musée de Cluny in 1938, before being transferred to the Musée de Châtellerault in 1944, where it is still housed.

This latch is also published in the Catalog of the Arconati-Visconti Collection: Paintings and Drawings, Sculptures, and Works of Art from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (Paul Leprieur, André Michel, Gaston Migeon, Jean-Joseph Marquet de Vasselot, Hachette, Paris, 1917, p. 101, no. 114).

It is in remarkable condition. On the reverse are two discreet mounting marks, each consisting of seven small punched dots—one on the body of the “F” and the other on the movable latch. These marks were used to identify the two components so they could be assembled after production, providing insight into the working methods of Renaissance locksmith workshops.

Dimensions: Height: 14 cm

An extremely rare museum-quality piece, directly linked to the most iconic construction project of Francis I and comparable to an example held in the national collections.

Price excludes shipping costs

Police Registry Ref.: A150

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