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Burnished wrought iron and gold make up this foliage-inspired scrollwork ring from France, thought to be from the 16th century.

Described as an early nightlight, this cabaret sign in the form of a bat is from late-18th- or early-19th-century France. The fixture has a two-foot wingspan and is composed of wrought and rolled iron, rivets, and glass.

A pair of German candle sconces from the 16th century display the repoussé technique, in which sheet iron is hammered into shape from the reverse side.

The production of iron jewellery reached its peak between 1813 and 1815, when the Prussian royal family urged all citizens to contribute their gold and silver jewellery towards funding the uprising against Napoleon during the War of Liberation. In return the people were given iron jewellery such as brooches and finger rings, often with the inscription Gold gab ich für Eisen (I gave gold for iron), or Für das Wohl des Vaterlands (For the welfare of our country / fatherland), or with a portrait of Frederick William III of Prussia on the back. Until then iron jewellery had only been worn as a symbol of mourning (because of its black colour acquired by treating the castings with linseed cakes) and was worth too little to be alluring, but suddenly it became a symbol of patriotism and loyalty and with its obvious aesthetic appeal, became popular overnight.