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An incomplete late Iron Age to early Roman copper alloy zoomorphic end-looped cosmetic mortar (1st century BC – 1st century AD). The cast copper alloy cosmetic mortar has an oval section and a slight curve throughout its length; there is a deep recession in its upper edge, inset only slightly from each end of the object. At one end, the gently curving mortar terminates in a rectangular-sectioned knop that has been pierced with a circular hole to create an attachment loop. At the opposite end, the mortar thickens into an irregular section, to form the neck of a zoomorphic terminal. The terminal projects upwards and outwards from this to form the head of a beast with a blunt, triangular muzzle which has an incised open mouth. From the top of the beast’s head project two mismatching ears, one of which points outwards along the same axis as the brow and the other of which points upwards. Beneath these on each side, a deep circular eye has been incised: the eyes are not level. From the centre of the base of the mortar projects a rectangular-sectioned knop that has broken quite close to the base, leaving two small projecting tips. This suggests either the knop divided into two feet, or it originally had a hole pierced through it. Either way, it was probably intended to steady the mortar during use (Jackson 1975). The mortar is fairly worn and has a dark green-brown patina, with patches of a far brighter green corrosion.

Jackson (1975), illustrates several similar examples, p. 177 ref. 4-5, with ref. 4 having a steadying knop projecting from the bottom of the mortar, but ref. 5 displaying a more similar end-loop; both examples have zoomorphic terminals that are slightly bovid. Jackson (1975) struggles to assign a specific date range, but suggests that the insularity of the artefact type point to it originating prior to the Roman conquest.

Dimensions: length: 74.79mm; width: 16.38mm; thickness: 7.19mm; weight: 37.92g.

Reference: Jackson, R. 1975. Cosmetic sets from Late Iron Age and Roman Britain. Britannia XVI pp.165-192
 

• Jackson, R., 1985 Cosmetic sets from late Iron Age and Roman Britain, Britannia, XVI, ppp165-192..

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Created: Wednesday 20th January 2010
Updated: Thursday 24th February 2011