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Unique Way to Display a Large Amount of Vintage Keys

Vintage key collections sometimes are amassed deliberately, through purchasing large skeleton keys at antique shops. Other times, keys are accumulated in a much less auspicious manner. Obsolete keys to homes and suitcases no longer owned create an instant collection. There are several creative and ways to make a vintage key collection an intriguing feature of a room using household items. Prominently display highlights of the collection on a wall or group the entire assortment in a jar to create a conversation starter.

Things You'll Need

Glass jar or vase
Vintage keys
Soap and water
Dish drainer or towel
Thumb tacks or small nails

Instructions

Table Display
- 1
  
  A glass jar can make antique keys decorative.
  
  Purchase a large glass jar. Select a translucent clear or colored jar. For additional visual interest, select a jar with opaque swirls or stripes. Select a clear jar or one that is mostly clear with opaque designs for additional visual interest. Pour an assortment of keys of varying sizes into the jar. Display on a table or shelf.
- 2
  Clean jar thoroughly with warm soapy water. Dry with a soft cloth. If interior is difficult to reach, place jar upside down in a dish rack or on a kitchen towel until dry.
- 3
  
  Select the most interesting keys to display.
  
  Select keys to display. Keys of various sizes create visual interest. Identify several of the most interesting keys and put them aside. Pour the remainder of the keys into the jar. Leave one inch between the top of the keys and top of the jar.
- 4
  Review the keys that were put aside. Squeeze and wiggle them keys into the sides of the jar, so that they may be most visible to an observer.
- 5
  
  Glass beads add color and sparkle to a key display.
  
  Add several glass beads, mirrored pieces or shiny aquarium rocks into the jar. Use a key or pencil to work them into the gaps.
- 6
  Place the jar on a coffee table, shelf, or window sill to create an instant conversation list.
Wall Display
- 7
  Select the most interesting keys from the collection to highlight in a display. Alternately, group like-sized keys together. On a flat surface, arrange the keys until you are satisfied with the display.
- 8
  
  Group similar keys together.
  
  Select location. Inside a bookcase shelf, in a nook, or over a desk are suggestions for a small collection.
- 9
  
  Thumb tacks can be adjusted on the wall.
  
  Place tacks on the wall where the keys will hang. Use one tack per key and push them into the wall with a finger. Hang keys on tacks. Adjust tack positions until desired look is achieved. Tacks may permanently hold keys, or replace tacks with small brad nails. Hammer nails gently for easy removal.

Antiques