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

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#152854

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.