Friday, April 8, 2011

Les clés




Keys suggest a mystery to me. What did they open and what secrets did they hide?

C'est un mystère!


Rue Saint-Paul
Marais




To see more Weekend Reflections go to James' Newtown Daily Photo.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

J'ai toujours été fasciné par les vieilles clés. Qu'ont-elles servi à enfermer, cacher, dissimuler? Elles ont été témoin de secrets. Des secrets d'héritages? Des lettres d'amour clandestin?
Si je devais n'avoir qu'une seule collection, ce serait celle des clés.
Bonne journée, Genie!:

Rob-bear said...

Et la clé à sa coeur, ou es-elle?

Interessant, Geneie.

Malyss said...

"cle des songes", "cle des champs", "cle de sol","cle du probleme"...we have so many kinds of keys in France in our language..!

Sebab said...

Beautiful keys. Keys are like mysteries to me. I think each of them have a very very secret stories to tell.

Thanks for the visit and the comments.

Forest Dream Weaver said...

Looks like an interesting shop.Beautiful old keys ...... Pandora might have found one here to open her casket!

Enjoy your day Genie! Rx

Andy said...

My guess would be a medieval times chastity belt or it has something to do with The Da Vinci Code. All kidding aside, I staired at the photo for about 5 minutes. I just found the keys intriguing. Interesting catch with your camera Genie.

Diane said...

You couldnt have many of those on a key ring in your bag! xxx

Joe said...

Don't think any of these would start my Holden. Wouldn't it be nice to find what they unlocked?

THis is Belgium said...

Je connaîs bien la rue St Paul ! will be looking for keys on my next visit.
do you know the Wheelbarrow bookshop in that same street? and Thanksgiving goodies shop?
it definitely is one of my favorite streets!

Shell Sherree said...

Does anyone even make keys like this anymore? They are romantic and intriguing, Genie, and conjur all kinds of flights of fancy.

M said...

I'm with Richard, such lovely keys certainly must have been associated with love letters!! Rue St. Paul is definitely on my list! Packing has started ... P-3 ...

Cezar and Léia said...

I'm enchanted by your words, your imagination, and these stuffs are very beautiful, specially that one in the right side, with the hat!
A nice weekend dear friend,
hugs
Léia

Pam Holnback said...

Great shot. I have a collection of keys from Bolivia!

Deborah said...

I love mysteres! Another evocative and quirky picture, Genie - what an eye you have for the intriguing...

Arti said...

Each key holds something behind closed doors, dont know what is there inside!! The keys are beautiful and indeed big mysteries... You have a lovely blog and the pics are superb...
Have a nice day:)

Sylvia K said...

Oh, I do love the keys!! They are indeed so full of mystery -- I can only repeat what others have written!! And these are SO beautiful, old and different! Wonderful post for the day, Genie, as always! Hope you have a lovely weekend! Enjoy!

Sylvia

Kathryn Dyche said...

Keys definitely hold a mystery to them, lovely shot.

jennyfreckles said...

They'd be fun to collect. It's an imaginative subject to choose for your blog. I've been enjoying your coments on other people's posts too - you write so well.

Karen said...

Oh, what an interesting photo! Old keys, old memories, maybe even hidden treasures unlocked with the right key. Good luck with your new lens this weekend.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Bergson said...

la clé du trsèsor est à droite

genie said...

Super shot of the keys....I, like you, wonder what the story each one has to tell. Those ones of long ago always make me think of imprisonment and dungeons. Maybe they were to beautiful rooms in castles....that is a much more pleasant thought. Nice to see you again.
The Other Genie

'Tsuki said...

Curieux... Un cliché pris rue St Paul, alors que les clefs, c'est l'attribut de St Pierre...

Yes keys are quite mysterious. I sllep with one quite special under my pillow ; it is supposed to help me avoid bad dreams...

Alexa said...

They're wonderful, Genie! I was just on the rue St. Paul, but did not have your "eye" for these beautiful keys. Nice shot—and nice reflection.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Richard -- Moi aussi, j'aime les histoires et les romans des clés. As-tu une collection de clés maintenant?

Bear -- In a safe place, mon ami.

Malyss -- Interesting, and perhaps it is because mankind is always looking for answers...

Sailor -- Yes, and where are the objects that these keys opened?

Rx -- I sometimes feel that I inadvertently open Pandora's box

Andy -- I am glad that you liked it. Do you have any idea what the bone-handled object is on the right? (the one with the face)

Diane -- Well, if I had this many keys I would probably always be able to find them down in the bottom of my purse! (funny)

Joe -- Yes, I have some antiques requiring keys but none of the keys are as elaborate as these in the tray.

Belgium -- I think that we will be on this street next week and will find these shops you mention - merci!

Shell -- My thought is "no" unless someone wants a novelty item. How sad that is. (nice to see you back, my dear)

Marie -- Love letters and mystery of all sorts! I need to pack...

Léia -- Merci, mon amie... Do you know what that hatted figure is? I am stumped unless it is a knife of some sort.

Pam -- You should take a photo of them and post it on your blog... I would love to see them!

Gattina said...

I don't know if they have secrets, for sure is they always hide in my house and I can't find them !
Beautiful picture !

Halcyon said...

Very cool!

Starman said...

I love the looks of old keys, even if they were more or less, useless as security.

Randy said...

What an excellent collection. I love the idea of the mystery too.

cocoa and coconut said...

I love the idea that these could open up some gorgeous antique door to reveal a beautiful Parisian courtyard...

Andy said...

Sorry Genie... I don't know the answer to your question.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Deborah -- You are the queen of mysteries and I am awaiting the book! Merci... I love the intriguing and like that you see that in the photos.

Arti -- I would have definitely opened Pandora's box, tempted by what I did not know... merci!

Sylvia -- Yes, they are quite unusual and I do not think that a plastic credit card slipped in the space would open the locks. These keys are quite intricate!

Dyche -- Merci, mon amie!

jenny -- Many thanks... Mostly I do not go out looking for particular shots, except the usual tourist snaps and the parks but the remainder just capture my interest at the time.

Karen -- It's the hidden treasures and secrets that fascinate me! Trying out the new lens...

Bergson -- Vraiment? Je crois que tu as raison!

Other Genie -- Nice to see you, too! The longer I looked at this shot the more questions I had... merci!

'Tsuki -- C'est intéressant... une clé sous ton oreiller? You are a great source of information. I had not heard of that but may keep in mind. Also, I like the connection you mentioned between the street name and the attribution of keys to St. Peter - marvelous!

Alexa -- It is a tourist area and we were walking to get to another destination... glad I took a moment to look!

Halcyon -- Merci!

Starman -- I think that you may be right

Randy -- I think that Richard agrees with how wonderful a collection of old keys would be

snowwhite said...

Yes, keys are always mystery and a lot of stories behind them, especially antique ones. Inspire imagination very much who used them. Have a great weekend!

James said...

These keys are wonderful! I love old keys infact I used to have a collection of them when I was a boy. I look forward to seeing your new photos from Paris! Oh how I wish I could go!

Have a great time!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Brittany -- Perhaps I should take some of my old keys to see if I can gain admittance to the courtyards in Paris... hummmm?

Andy -- If I get by there next week, perhaps I can find out...

snowwhite -- Merci... the antique ones are best!

James -- Merci, and you will definitely go again... Perhaps we will even be there at the same time -- what fun!

Anonymous said...

Lovely image Genie. I enjoy the subtle reflections and those old keys are wonderful.

Thanks for your kind comments on Aware Writer.