Roman, late Republic to early Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE. A beautiful example of a round hand mirror with a slender handle in the form of a stylized lotus flower, its petals opened to embrace the bottom of the mirror surface. The long "stalk" of the flower widens further down before ending in a small bauble, making it comfortable to hold and to hang from a wall. The back of the mirror is decorated with a simple motif of concentric circles, often believed to be a ward against the evil eye. The front of the mirror would once have been highly polished to form a reflective surface. Size: 5.25" W x 9.1" H (13.3 cm x 23.1 cm); 10.6" H (26.9 cm) on included custom stand.

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, and was likely made in Campania.

Provenance: private Davis collection, Houston, Texas, USA, acquired in 2011 from Sands of Time, Washington, D.C., USA; ex-private collection of a Maryland, USA diplomat, acquired while posted overseas in the late 1950s to early 1960s

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#140117

Handle has been reattached, with some adhesive visible around the repair lines. Dark russet and green patina with some light encrustation on the surface.