MIRROR CASE

A complete copper alloy mirror case dating to the medieval period (c.AD 1250-1350).

The object is comprised of the discs that form the base and lid of the case and still open an close. The lid has two pierced lugs at one end and a single lug projecting from the edge on the opposite side. The base disc has a single lug projecting from the opposite edge which is fitted between the double lugs of the upper disc and held in place with a copper-alloy rivet forming a hinge for the case. The base disc also has a double lug projecting from the opposite edge, which would have fitted the single lug on the upper disc to form a catch to secure the case.

The discs' exteriors are worn but appear to show the common design of a rounded, open cross in double lines of punched opposed triangles. The interior surfaces of the discs are missing the mirrored surfaces, and the base disc shows evidence of the adhesive used to secure the mirror. The object has a dark green patina with large brown patches on both sides.

Numerous comparable example have been recorded on the PAS database including YORYM-31BCE6, BH-4DE2E9, BH-36EB35, HAMP-36B010 and WILT-3CA276. BH-4DE2E9 discusses the lids of three similar mirrors which were found in excavations in London (Egan and Pritchard 1991: 361 - 362, nos. 1714, 1715 and 1716). The dating of the London examples suggests that this robust form of mirror case was probably introduced in the late 14th century (ibid. 365). According to Michael Lewis, 'By the end of 2013 the PAS had recorded 154 medieval base metal mirror cases, 78% of the total known...' (2014: 355). This particular design, the most common of all, is classified by Lewis as a Type A1 (ibid. 356).