Details

COLEM:JOS.508.98

Colchester Collections

Fine type Roman hand mirror with handle (detached). Disc largely complete, but missing two sections of the rim and fragmented into c.10 pieces and mounted onto perspex. There are two small pin-holes drilled from the rear surface and penetrating to the reflecting surface. They sit opposite each other, equidistance from the rim (c.13mm), and likely originate from the original mounting of the piece on a grave group tablet. Handle complete but damaged and detached from main disc and the perspex. In black ink Ô350Õ written onto the perspex of the handle mounting. It is unclear what this refers to. Reflecting Surface: Polished reflecting surface, largely flat with areas of green and dark raised corrosion. No decoration. Rear: Mildly concave, finished surface, largely free of raised corrosion. One pair of concentric circle decoration in the centre of the disc. No obvious location for where the handle would have been attached. Patches of solder from previous restoration are visible, and glue (from mounting to perspex backing) obscures areas. Thin wooden spit used on the reverse to support a modern repair. Handle: Single loop handle. There is no terminal knob present, instead the diameter is crimped in at the point at knob would have been located. This is likely the result of a break, rather than deliberate design. The disc support is broken off, and the (single) side arms are damaged on both sides.

Roman

metal, metal

Disc diameter: 108.17 mm
Handle length: 62.65 mm
Handle thickness: 2.85 mm
Handle weight: 9.00 g