KNIFE

Cast copper alloy Roman knife handle, probably from a toilet knife.

It is in the form of a female figure, comprising the torso down to the waist. She is facing forward and all the detail seems to have been cast integrally. The head is rounded but the body is flat on the reverse. The hair is quite like that on figurines of Diana with an elaborate arrangement and gathered into a kind of double-bow on top of the head. The hair is picked out with small cresents in vertical lines running from the top of the head to the neck, all around the head. She has pointed oval eyes and a small pursed mouth. Below the neck a possible necklace is represented with two lines, slightly curved running from one shoulder to the other. Under this is a double V, probably representing clothing, a tunic or robe. She has very narrow shoulders and no arms, being shown just as small stumps.

The torso narrows towards where it would have attached to the knife. It becomes cylindrical and has a double moulded collar. It has broken here and is uneven with nothing of the knife blade remaining. The cylinder is hollow.

The handle is generally in good condition although a patch of the original surface has been lost on the reverse leaving an uneven surface. It has a brownis-green patina.