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18th C. Wrought Iron Shutter Latch
That title doesn’t even begin to tell the story. This is forged art, elegant witness to the skill of an unknown 18th C. Pennsylvania blacksmith. Today called latches, in the 18th C. they were known as shutter dogs and in parts of New England and most of Pennsylvania they were used to hold wooden window shutters open during the day. Because shutters of the time were designed not only as decoration but window protection that could be closed in defense. They were heavy and early shutter dogs had to be substantial. This one is 9½” long—a double ended design with a scrollwork heart at one end, a solid heart at the other decorated by a classic southeastern Pennsylvania fylfot and a flattened 6” spike in the center that was driven either into the masonry or siding of the outer wall. Purchased ten years ago at the sale of the legendary Paul and Margaret Weld folk art collection. This is the most beautiful piece of shutter hardware I’ve ever seen. See Schiffer, Antique Iron, pp. 100-101 for an assortment of analogous if less fully developed pieces. $895
