Roman Bronze Mirror Case w/ Woman in Profile
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A gorgeous bronze mirror case with an applied cast bronze relief of a woman's face in profile on its smooth, polished back side; this is held in place with tiny bronze nails. The edges of the back are folded inward, revealing an interior with a series of incised concentric circles decorating it; this would have once protected the reflective surface of a mirror. The woman's face is depicted very similarly to the popular style painted on red-figure vases known as a "lady of fashion" - a recurring motif in Apulian art believed to show a woman with her hair done elaborately for her marriage day. The "lady of fashion" is the head of a woman shown to the left, wearing a kekryphalos, a type of hair covering, earrings, and a bead necklace. Here her necklace has a separate bronze ring attached to a tiny bronze loop that serves as a pendant on the necklace but may also have once had a practice purpose, such as attaching the mirror case to a sleeve. Size: 4.7" W x 5.6" H (11.9 cm x 14.2 cm)
Mirrors are often associated with women, and specifically women's religion, in the Roman Empire: devotees of Isis carried mirrors for rituals, for example. This style of mirror is similar to ones found in the Vesuvius area, probably made in Campania. Given the "lady of fashion" motif, it may have been given as a wedding gift.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#152854
Condition Report: Woman's face, which is a separate piece of bronze from the mirror back attached by bronze nails, has been expertly restored in a few areas, notably on the cheek. The back is in good condition with a few small tears around the edges. Rich patina and deposits on all surfaces.
View it on
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A gorgeous bronze mirror case with an applied cast bronze relief of a woman's face in profile on its smooth, polished back side; this is held in place with tiny bronze nails. The edges of the back are folded inward, revealing an interior with a series of incised concentric circles decorating it; this would have once protected the reflective surface of a mirror. The woman's face is depicted very similarly to the popular style painted on red-figure vases known as a "lady of fashion" - a recurring motif in Apulian art believed to show a woman with her hair done elaborately for her marriage day. The "lady of fashion" is the head of a woman shown to the left, wearing a kekryphalos, a type of hair covering, earrings, and a bead necklace. Here her necklace has a separate bronze ring attached to a tiny bronze loop that serves as a pendant on the necklace but may also have once had a practice purpose, such as attaching the mirror case to a sleeve. Size: 4.7" W x 5.6" H (11.9 cm x 14.2 cm)
Mirrors are often associated with women, and specifically women's religion, in the Roman Empire: devotees of Isis carried mirrors for rituals, for example. This style of mirror is similar to ones found in the Vesuvius area, probably made in Campania. Given the "lady of fashion" motif, it may have been given as a wedding gift.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#152854
Condition Report: Woman's face, which is a separate piece of bronze from the mirror back attached by bronze nails, has been expertly restored in a few areas, notably on the cheek. The back is in good condition with a few small tears around the edges. Rich patina and deposits on all surfaces.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
