Ancient Roman Powder Spatula or aurispeculum, Bronze, 1st-4th C CE, Size 142mm. Condition Crack in the center.Reference: Rockefeller Museum, Jerusalem, example bronze spatula 1731 listed with cosmetic glass tube, Celtic and Roman Artefacts, “This has an elongated narrow bowl which was used for extracting cosmetics or sweetmeats from the narrow glass phials in which they were stored. The stem is quite thin and long, and ends in an olive-shaped probe or pestle.” (page 93), cf Metalwork from Sardis, Plate 41 #639. Listed as Late Roman, Early Byzantine. “Long shaft with ovoid section tapering to end and terminated in small ovoid bulb. Other end is flattened and widened to form a leaf-shaped blade with vertical creates in center. Such an implement could function as a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or surgical implement. It closely resembles the instrument that Milne called a “cyathiscomele,” used for stirring, mixing and spreading salves,” Reference: Corinth XII – the Minor Objects #1334: listed as late Roman period,” Reference: Flinders Petrie - Objects of Daily Use Plate 23 #54Provenance: From A Washington DC Collection, Found in IsraelEx Liderman Coins Stamps and Antiques, Tel Aviv, (06/14/2000)