A very fine quality and incredibly rare late roman / early Byzantine decorated lead mirror.
This item which dates to circa 5th-7th century AD, is in excellent allover condition.
The front facing surface has much decoration as shown and is still complete with its original suspension loop ,which would have held a chain or cord and hung around the neck of the owner.
The small mirror glass in the centre is still present with some small portion of the original silvered backing still intact. The silvered backing would have caused the reflection through the glass.It is quite likely because the actual mirror in the centre is small that this piece would have been used by pilgrims to capture the sight of a holy relic whilst on pilgrimage.
This practice continued in to the medieval period where it was thought that capturing the sight of a holy relic would bring good luck and fortune on the recipient.
This is a rare item to find and seldom seen intact such as this.
Size .6.0 CM in Dia 7.0 CM including the suspension loop.
Ex. Private collection from the late 1970s.
As with all of my antiquities and coins this item comes complete with a display box together with a certificate of authenticity.
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