Expert shows what it takes to unlock rare 18th-century Italian floor safe — and it's no joke

History is filled with some mind-numbing surprises, leaving people to wonder about their value in the 21st century. Often, while scrolling through reels, we stumble upon finely crafted pieces of art that have still retained their charm. Similarly, the world of social media has found its latest interest in an elegant Italian hobnail floor safe with a not-so-easy unlocking mechanism. The vintage security chest with a golden lion emblem, currently available at a North American gallery, was showcased by M.S. Rau, who goes by @msrau on Instagram. As per the gallery’s official website, the iron-armored safe measures a huge 70" H × 41" W × 22" D. A widely circulating video showed the New Orleans-based dealer of fine arts opening it with four different keys and a pick, leaving viewers amazed by its craftsmanship.

Apart from its build quality, the floor safe, originally from the 18th century, featured multiple impressive attributes, according to M.S. Rau. The security chest’s intricate locking mechanism was designed to be impenetrable without the proper keys and expertise. In the video’s description, the expert referred to the security chest as “a pinnacle of period security” and explained how it safeguarded invaluable possessions. “This is an 18th-century Italian safe with one of the most unique unlocking sequences we have ever seen,” the dealer was heard informing his 1.8 million viewers. As part of its complex opening procedure, he first opened a secret drawer by pulling it out from an emblem to reveal a hidden key.

“Then we grab the pick, insert it into the lion's mouth here, which will reveal our first keyhole,” the expert added, before completing two more steps with the pick. While inserting the pick into the bottom keyhole, he received his first audible cue. Diligently following a complex and tiring unlocking process, the dealer successfully opened the security chest to reveal different drawers for storing doubloons from multiple regions. “The interior reveals four drawers, each designated for specific currencies, including Spanish Doubloons, Genovese Doubloons, Pistoles, and Louis d’Or,” the dealer was heard saying in the nearly one-and-a-half-minute footage. Additionally, the dealer showed a hidden compartment behind the mirror to reveal the final key for unveiling a hidden strongbox inside.

The gallery’s official website further emphasized only a few hobnail safes of this quality, complexity, and age have existed in modern times, with even fewer of this scale in the past. The security chest, described as the “hallmark” of other such Italian safes, was priced at a whopping $124,500. Meanwhile, its footage managed to draw widespread attention on social media, racking up millions of views and 97,463 likes since it was first shared on January 30, 2025. Among the countless reactions to it, @fogdogjake jokingly wrote, “I was just about to buy this, but now everyone knows how to open it.” “This safe could be the main character of a novel,” @stefani_banhete suggested. Echoing a similar sentiment, @patrickmkeane said, “This safe would be perfect for a Resident Evil game where you have to find the randomly scattered keys, picks, and instructions on how to unlock the safe!”

You can follow M.S. Rau (@msrau) on Instagram for more artistic and lifestyle content.