Record ID: SF8530 - ROMAN spatula

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SPATULA

Unique ID: SF8530

A resized image of Drawing of a Roman Feugere type A5 handle SPATULA

Cast copper-alloy handle from a wax spatula, in the shape of the goddess Minerva. The head has a helmet with large crest, a raised oval on each side, and either a substantial rim or a roll of hair beneath. The face has a worn nose and the eyes are just visible. There are no arms, and there are two V-shaped grooves on the chest. The back has three rounded facets but no other decoration. Just above the waist of the figure are two transverse ridges which run right around both front and back. Below this the handle flares out and has a triangular facet on both front and back, before flattening and becoming rectilinear at the base. A transverse slot runs up the middle from the base, and in this the iron spatula blade would originally have been fixed. There is no trace of any rivet, solder or other fixing mechanism. The handle is now worn and corroded. Nina Crummy has recently produced a catalogue and discussion of wax spatula handles in the form of Minerva (Feugere type A5); this is now the 11th known from Britain, and the most easterly. The spatulas were used for smoothing down large areas of wax on writing tablets. Minerva was the goddess of wisdom and learning, so is appropriate for such an object, but Crummy also points out that when detached the handle functions perfectly well as a simple figurine of Minerva. As she was also a goddess of healing, it may then have been used as an amulet or votive offering.

Notes:

In addition to the 9 handles in Crummy 2002, a 10th was found in Hampshire (see reverse of PA newsletter no. 4, Spring 2002).

Class: handle
Sub class: Feugere type A5

Chronology

Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: AD 43
Date to: AD 410

Dimensions and weight

Length: 54.5 mm
Width: 12 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight: 27.57 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy [scope notes | view all attributed records]

Spatial data

Region: East
County: Suffolk
District: Mid Suffolk
To be known as: STONHAM EARL

Method of discovery: Metal detector [scope notes]
General landuse: Cultivated land [scope notes]
Specific landuse: Character undetermined [scope notes]

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st September 2001

Personal details

Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Dr Helen Geake - [ view all attributed records]
Identified by: Dr Helen Geake - [view all attributed records]

Other reference numbers

References cited

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