Roman mirror

ITEM: Mirror
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 86 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex American private collection, New Jersey, acquired before 2000s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 4 to 6 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the amount of the sale, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Roman bronze mirrors were essential personal items in ancient Roman society, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. These mirrors were typically made from bronze, a durable alloy that could be polished to a reflective surface. Roman mirrors were often small and handheld, with a circular or oval-shaped mirror plate set into a decorative bronze frame. The reverse side of the mirror often featured intricate engravings or relief decorations depicting mythological scenes, deities, or ornamental motifs.

The use of bronze mirrors in ancient Rome was not limited to personal grooming but extended to various social and cultural contexts. Mirrors played a role in religious rituals, where they were used for divination, scrying, and other forms of magic and prophecy. In Roman funerary practices, mirrors were sometimes placed in tombs as grave goods, believed to assist the deceased in the afterlife or to symbolize the transition from life to death. Additionally, mirrors were prized as luxury items and status symbols, with finely crafted examples often given as gifts or heirlooms among the elite.

Bronze mirrors also served as important artifacts in Roman art and material culture, providing valuable insights into ancient Roman aesthetics, craftsmanship, and social customs. The decorative elements found on Roman mirrors, such as mythological scenes, portraits, and floral motifs, reflect the artistic tastes and cultural values of the time.