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Description: | A beautiful example of a cast copper-alloy Roman nail cleaner. The object is 55 mm in length. The head of the article is actually designed as a female head with tied back hair. To the reverse of the head is a suspension loop, at a right angle to the blade of the cleaner. Below the head is a thin neck which expands to a rectangular plate with two forward projecting protrusions, intended to represent arms or breasts, probably the latter. This plate is inscribed with an X on its two side and rear plates. A slight trace of what appears to be gilding is evident at the top left of the head. This example is unusual, making it rather difficult to date. It is without parallel in Crummy's typology of nail cleaners (2001), yet stylistically it seems most similar (albeit relatively) to those from the first and second century AD. The figure depicted on the nail cleaner is uncertain, but it is likely that it represents a female deity. If this artefact is one of a number of toilet articles once attached to a chatelaine brooch then it seems likely that a number of different deities would originally been depicted. However, unless others are found this must remain conjecture. Nevertheless, a fabulous example of the variety exhibited in Roman cosmetic sets.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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