A wooden church figure of Saint Peter, 18th-19th century. St. Peter is carved holding a large key, the key of the kingdom of Heaven. In ecclesiastical heraldry, papal coats of arms (those of individual popes) and those of the Holy See and Vatican City State include an image of crossed keys to represent the metaphorical keys of the office of Saint Peter, the keys of heaven, or the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, that, according to Catholic teaching, Jesus promised to Saint Peter, empowering him to take binding actions. In the Gospel of Matthew 16:19, Jesus says to Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven."
 
H 28.35 in. x W 8.67 in. x D 4.73 in.
H 72 cm x W 22 cm x D 12 cm