A large Greco-Roman Bronze Mirror, Late Hellenistic or Early Imperial, ca. 100 BCE – 100 CE

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This circular mirror provides a fascinating glimpse into the everyday life of the ancient Romans. Used for personal grooming, mirrors were considered to be an important part of Rom an personal accessories. Roman bronze mirrors were produced in various sizes, and this particular example is very large, measuring eight inches in diameter. Polished to a high shine, the mirror side is slightly convex, which would have helped to produce a clear reflection. While the back is protected by a shallow lip, and features a lovely incised flower motif of alternating registers of circles and petals. For a related example, see Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number: 74.51.5405 and Hayes, John W. (1984) Greek, Roman and Related Metalware in the Royal Ontario Museum. A Catalogue (Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum), p. 188-190. Medium: Bronze Dimensions: Diameter: 8 inches (20.32 cm) Condition: The mirror is intact and in very good condition overall.Provenance: Raymond A. Davis (1931 - 2018), California, private collection, acquired between 1980 to 2005. Show more