Description:

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A fine strigil tool created from a single sheet of hammered brass, with a wide, curved blade that tapers to a rounded end, to use for scraping away access oil after application to the skin. The upper handle is pierced and folds down the verso to create an additional suspension loop. In the Classical World, athletes would apply olive oil and sand to their bodies and scrape the skin's surface with a strigil to exfoliate and clean themselves. It was an essential piece of equipment for the typical Greek and Roman athlete, and as such came to symbolize not only health but athleticism itself. Size: 4" L x 1" W x 7" H (10.2 cm x 2.5 cm x 17.8 cm); 7.5" H (19 cm) on included custom stand.

#172369

  • Provenance: private Chicago, Illinois, USA collection
  • Condition: Small stable fissure just above curve, otherwise intact and very good. Surface wear commensurate with age, and rich patina throughout.

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June 22, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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