Lot Essay
A similar swage-decorated thumb-latch with elliptical head and butterfly terminus is in the Titus C. Geesey Collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and is illustrated in Garvan, p. 95, fig. 19.
Details
A GROUP OF WROUGHT IRON THUMB-LATCHES
PENNSYLVANIA, LATE 18TH - EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Comprising four handles, three with thumb latches; the first with tulip bud head, swage decorated handle and tab terminus; the second with flaring tulip head, cylindrical handle and triple lobed terminus; the third with pointed elliptical head, swage decorated handle, butterfly terminus; the fourth with scalloped floral head, flat bracket handle and conforming scalloped terminus--13 5/8in. length the largest (4)
PENNSYLVANIA, LATE 18TH - EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Comprising four handles, three with thumb latches; the first with tulip bud head, swage decorated handle and tab terminus; the second with flaring tulip head, cylindrical handle and triple lobed terminus; the third with pointed elliptical head, swage decorated handle, butterfly terminus; the fourth with scalloped floral head, flat bracket handle and conforming scalloped terminus--13 5/8in. length the largest (4)