Only a handful of historians had known it existed, yet the tale of the Klaus from the Regne de Mallorca, two gold pieces forged in different eras, is now stepping back into the light. One piece is Gothic, the other Renaissance, and both were meant to symbolize the loyalty and obedience of Majorcan soldiers who pledged themselves to Carlos V five centuries ago. After decades of mystery and years of searches, Cort has located one of the two and is actively pursuing the other, though its current whereabouts remain elusive, having slipped his grasp in England.
The first Clau has returned to Mallorca thanks to an arrangement between the Palma City Council and an American jeweler who owns the Renaissance piece. The owner has graciously entrusted the Renaissance Clau from Christie’s to the island, on a temporary basis until next summer. As explained by Llorenç Carrió, a council member overseeing education and language policy, Cort’s aim is to reveal the key to the public soon after the piece endures a series of authenticity tests conducted at the Rotger Clinic. Those tests are designed to shed more light on the artwork while keeping its enduring mystery intact.
Measured at 23 by 5 centimeters, the first Clau carries a round handle adorned with acanthus leaves and presents a cubic core beneath an enamelled shield bearing the heraldry of the Hispanic Monarchy and the Ciutat y Regne de Mallorca. A Latin inscription sits between the third module and the handle, proclaiming the object as the Klaus of the Regne de Mallorca, while acknowledging magistrates, fathers of the res publica, and the inhabitants of the kingdom who offer their loyalty to His Holiness, to the Caesarean, to Catholic and Royal Highnesses.
Historically, a delegation of soldiers led by the merchant Bartomeu Ventallol attempted to cement allegiance to Carlos V by presenting the Clau as a symbol of fidelity. The emperor, however, did not accept the gift, arguing that true keys lay in loyalty and obedience rather than any ceremonial object. From that moment onward, the two Clau traced a winding course through the centuries, passing through various hands until 1849. The Rothschild dynasty, a prominent German-Jewish family, acquired the pieces and eventually split them in separate destinies, with one later entering Christie’s collection.
Thanks to the scholarship of historians Eulàlia Duran and Bartomeu Mestre, Palma’s City Council learned of the auction and took steps to recover the Renaissance Clau over the past weekend. Cort now seeks the collaboration of Palma residents to locate the Gothic piece, which features a checkered handle, while experts continue to work on the recovered part to learn more about its origins.
Speaking on behalf of the Balearic Islands Visual Artists Association, president Alex Ceball described the discovery as a landmark event for the region’s historical memory. The Consistory renewed its appeal for cooperation from the art world, museums, and private collectors to aid in the search for the second historic piece. The search process continues as technicians and scholars examine the recovered artifact, with the aim of sharing fuller insights with the public in due course.
The story of these two Clau pieces is not merely about precious metal and old inscriptions. It is a narrative about identity, memory, and the way a community can rally around a shared heritage. It is a reminder that artifacts carry the voices of the past and, at times, prompt new conversations about loyalty, power, and the responsibilities of guardianship across generations. The unfolding events emphasize how history can emerge from long-hidden drawers, vaults, and auctions, inviting the world to reexamine a pivotal episode in the region’s relationship with the crown and the broader currents of European history. The public is invited to follow the developments as the pieces are studied, authenticated, and, if possible, reunited. Attribution: Palma City Council records and local scholarly sources provide the framework for this ongoing discovery and restoration effort.