cosmetic-grinder
- Museum number
- 1987,1004.1
- Description
-
Bronze cosmetic-grinder, with bull-headed terminal.
Centre-looped mortar, with partially abraded and iron stained green and brown patina. The long, strongly-curved bow has plain bulbous walls, with upright lightly-hatched rims, a rounded keel, and a shallow U-sectioned groove, which runs over both terminals. The large bovid-headed terminal is well-modelled with horns (both broken), ears, eyes and nostrils clearly depicted. There may originally have been more detail on the flared muzzle, but the patina is badly eroded in this region. The dewlap is complete, though a little chipped at the edges. The second terminal, also badly eroded, is a simple, ridged sub-rectangular knob. The loop is broken, but sufficient survives to show that it was originally a large, stout D-shaped plate with circular eye.
Analysis (using x-ray fluorescence) of the corroded and uncleaned metal surface indicates the alloy to be a leaded gunmetal (Cu-Sn-Pb-Zn).
- Dimensions
-
Length: 91.50 millimetres
-
Weight: 64.80 grammes
-
Thickness: 12 millimetres
-
Width: 60 millimetres
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition notes
- Found after earth fall on local beach, below Cliff Farm, by the donor.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1987,1004.1