Antiquity Ancient Roman Bronze Tweezers Ear Scoop Nail Cleaner Chatelaine Set For Sale
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Antiquity Ancient Roman Bronze Tweezers Ear Scoop Nail Cleaner Chatelaine Set:
$175.00
Ancient Roman Imperial Cast Bronze Cosmetic Multi-Tool Chatelaine Set — Tweezers, Ear Scoop & Nail Cleaner on Original Wire Ring (3.2 cm — c. 1st–3rd Century AD)
Authenticity & Guarantee
Provenance: Ex-private European collection, legally acquired from international sales; Classical Roman Provincial Sphere.
Item Specifications & Exact Dimensions
Object: Cast & Hammered Bronze Personal Grooming Chatelaine Set (Instrumenta Delicati)
Culture / Period: Roman Imperial Era
Date Range: Circa 1st Century AD – 3rd Century AD (c. 100 – 300 AD)
Exact Length: 3.2 cm (32 mm)
Material: Cast and Hammered Bronze (Copper Alloy)
Form & Architecture: Complete three-piece personal hygiene ensemble mounted on its original ancient circular bronze wire suspension ring (annulus); includes a pair of spring-action depilatory tweezers (volsella), a slender curved ear scoop / cosmetic spoon (auriscalpium / ligula), and a flat spatulate nail cleaner / scraper blade (scalprum)
Condition: Exceptional, 100% complete and fully articulated ancient condition. Unusually rare intact multi-tool set retaining its original functional suspension loop; preserved under a dark charcoal-olive bronze patina with light off-white to tan earthen burial encrustations. Free of modern restoration or tooling.
Roman Grooming Culture & The Ancient "Multi-Tool"
In Roman society, meticulous personal hygiene (cultus) was a daily priority for citizens, soldiers, and travelers alike. Compact grooming kits—often worn suspended from a tunic belt, pouch, or neck cord as a chatelaine—served as the ancient equivalent of a modern pocket multi-tool. Carried into public bathhouses (thermae) and on military campaigns, these sets provided immediate access to essential personal care tools.
Functional Tool Breakdown
Depilatory Tweezers (Volsella): Featuring pinched shoulders and inward-curved terminal jaws designed to pluck facial hair, extract splinters, and assist in minor field medical procedures.
Ear Scoop / Ointment Spoon (Auriscalpium / Ligula): A delicate, narrow scoop used both for ear cleaning and for extracting precious cosmetic pigments, perfumes, and medicinal ointments from small glass unguentaria.
Nail Cleaner / Scraper (Scalprum): A flat blade used to scrape grime from under nails and smooth skin calluses.
Typological Analysis & Exact Classification
Primary Class: Classical Antiquity Personal Equipment / Roman Toilet & Medical Kit
Sub-Class: Ring-Suspended Chatelaine Multi-Tool Ensemble Class
Comparable Archaeological Examples & Museum Accession Numbers
British Museum (Accession No. 1856,0701.2245): Roman bronze personal toilet set on a wire ring loop comprising tweezers, ear scoop, and nail cleaner.
Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession No. 74.51.5390): Roman Imperial copper alloy cosmetic kit with suspended grooming instruments.
Museum of London: Roman civilian and military bronze hygiene chatelaines from Londinium excavations.
TRN-1-9
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