Pair of Roman Bronze Tweezers

£125.00

A pair of Roman bronze tweezers decorated with a finely incised linear design. The tweezers feature a suspension loop at the top and are stepped to create a triangular pincer with a pointed end. They are tightened by a thin band which has a vertical split. The suspension loop at the top would have allowed the user to attach it to a larger hoop with other cosmetic or medical instruments, like probes or spatulae.

Date: Circa 1st-3rd Century AD
Condition: Fine condition. Some earthly encrustations and a beautiful deep patination to the surface.

SOLD

SKU: CF-38 Category: Tags: ,

In Ancient Roman society, tweezers were used as cosmetic and medical tools. The shape and fine decoration of this piece suggest that it was used for the latter, rather than for medical operations, which would typically required longer and narrower arms. Cosmetic tweezers, called vulsella, were mainly used for depilation, which was fashionable amongst men and women throughout the Empire. Personal hygiene was greatly valued by the Ancient Romans, with baths part of the daily routine, with many having their own individual sets of cosmetic tools.

Weight 4.22 g
Dimensions L 4.9 x W 0.5 x H 0.3 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

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