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Description: | An incomplete and misshapen Roman or Medieval cast copper-alloy toilet implement (43-1400 AD).The implement has been made from a strip of rectangular sectioned copper-alloy. It is flat on one side and longitudinally ribbed on the other side and has a twisted shaft of thirteen turns. At one end there is an incomplete spatula and the other end has an incomplete scoop. The surface has remains of a white metal coating, probably silver. Length (if straightened): c. 110.0mm; diameter of shaft 4.05mm. Weight: 7.32g.Teresa Gilmore has commented:'Twisted handles are to be found on Roman cosmetic implements, although distinguishing them from medical implements is difficult, as is often acknowledged. A toilet implement with a S-twisted handle and pinnate extant terminal can be found illustrated in Bishop (1996, 39; ref. 214). Perhaps an even more directly comparable object can be found on this database - ref. IOW-8E5564. Spoon-probes with S-twisted or barley twist handles can be found illustrated in Crummy (1983, 61; refs. 1926, 1927).However the twisted style of handle for toilet implements returned to fashion during the late Medieval Period (14th to 16th Centuries AD). Three similar earscoops (Pritchard, 1991, 379, #1758-1760) were recovered from the Baynard House and the Billingsgate sites in London, dated to Ceramic Phases 10 & 11 (c.1300 to c.1400). Each of these three were made from sheet metal, hammered into a scoop at one end and a flat pointed tip at the other, with a S-twisted shank.This find is more similar to those of Medieval dating, but there is a still a probability that it is of Roman dating'.Reference:Bishop, M C. 1996. Finds from Roman Aldborough: A Catalogue of Small Finds from the Romano-British Town of Isurium Brigantum. Oxbow Monograph 65. Oxbow Books. OxfordCrummy, N. 1983. The Roman Small Finds from excavations in Colchester 1971-9. Colchester Archaeological Report 2. Colchester Archaeological Trust. ColchesterEgan, G. & Pritchard, F. 1991. Dress Accessories: Medieval Finds from Excavations in London. Museum of London / London: The Stationery Office.Pritchard, F. 1991. Cosmetic Sets in Egan & Pritchard, 1991. pp377-383.
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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