Details

COLEM:JOS.523

Colchester Collections

Fine type Roman hand mirror with handle. The disc is largely complete, but but very fragmentary (c.8 fragments), largely attached together with modern solder, with two lose fragments. The handle is largely complete, although the disc support and part of one side arm are broken off. The handle is not attached to the disc. Reflecting Surface: The disc is concave with some thinning towards the edges. It is polished but with areas of raised green corrosion across the surface, and areas of black patina. There are remnants of lathe turned circles around the rim, but not deeply enough incised to be considered decoration. Rear: The disc is concave and polished with areas of green corrosion focused around the rim, as well as large patches of modern lead solder over break lines. It is decorated with three sets (of three) turned concentric circles, in the centre, middle and near the rim. There is no trace of where the handle would have been attached. Handle: An almost complete single loop handle. The handle would have had a triangular disc support (broken off) and has a single side arm on either side. There is a very small boss protrusion on the end of the loop and this has clearly been worked to leave a neater edge than most examples of loop handles.

Roman

metal, metal

Disc diameter: 78.73 mm
Disc thickness: 0.88 mm
Disc weight: 34.10 g
Handle length: 50.00 mm
Handle width: 17.14 mm
Handle thickness: 2.27 mm
Handle weight: 5.30 g