sister_raphael: (supercute)


Is this a folding mirror case like extant ones? The date matches the artifact. The lady appears to be adjusting her hair or checking her face suggesting mirror. It's in 2 pieces, but she only needs to hold one, so it's joined. Perhaps
another comment on the vanity of women? I had wondered why there weren't pictures of hinged mirrors since there are quite a few extant ones in the very early 14th century and written about in the 13th century, so maybe, yes there are, and we're looking at it right now.

She isn't accompanied by musicians so I feel she's not an entertainer.

Here's what an extant 14th century mirror case from my collection looks like from the non-mirror side:


A few people suggested glasses, and while glasses do turn up in written records earlier than we see them shown in art, this would be the earliest depiction of them, and I do feel that her pose is more suggestive of attending to a stray hair or her face.

David being anointed. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260-1290)- Initial D- The Anointing of David. Google Art Project.
sister_raphael: (underconstruction)

I've been wanting someone to make reproductions of one of my medieval brooches for a long time, but frustratingly, people just don't get back to me...

Anyway, I've got some re-enactor friends who have been playing around with the idea of casting for some time now, and in the last 6 months, they've made themselves a name, Keystone Forge, and started to produce some things! Already they have made copies of one of my buttons from my collection, but last night they sent me a photo of a wax mold of the quatrefoil brooch with leaves!

I'll be getting a bulk order so I can do future things for book promotions- "book and brooch" specials, which have proved very popular in the past when I've done a similar thing, but it will be MY brooch from my own Gilbert Collection.

I'm just so excited!

They haven't shared their progress photo on social media yet, so I can't share it yet either, but it really will be an exact copy of the brooch above!


sister_raphael: thatsfantastic (thatsfantastic)

I was very excited to be contacted yesterday by an archaeologist, Ihor Hotun (go check him out, you won't be sorry) who worked on an excavation near Kyiv and shared the pdf of the findings with me.

Unfortunately, it was a very long pdf written in (I'm pretty sure) Ukrainian, so I wasn't able to read it. The images in the report were absolutely wonderful and I enjoyed them very much. In particular, he was writing about a ring brooch with glass stones which had been found, and he was asking to use photos of some of my brooches from my Gilbert Collection in a report of comparative findings.

Naturally, I am delighted that I can assist archaeology in some small way.

sister_raphael: (supercute)

Meanwhile look at these mirror case comparison photos with a $2 coin! from the Gilbert Collection.

Mirror case
with punchwork
MC02


Object
: Mirror case
Culture: Medieval. 13th-14th century
Area of Origin: Gloucestershire, UK
Material: Bronze
Size: 41mm x 29mm x 7mm
Size: open 78mm x 29mm
Weight: 14.82 grams

Notes: Medieval English bronze mirror case complete and with working hinge. The glass is absent but otherwise excellent condition. This is a wonderful medieval bronze mirror case, dating to the 13th-14th century. Both faces are decorated with punched geometric design. The object is intact with the original working hinge, the inside glass is missing. This example is complete which is quite rare for these little mirrors. A good example with a nice patina.

Ex. Private collection, originally found in England.

Similar to: Portable Antiquities Scheme Item BH-D9A5B1, found Hertfordshire, 1300-1450 with the exception that only one parallel row of punchwork crosses the face.
Similar to: Identical to Museum of London Dress Accessories, Pritchard & Egan, Items 1714, 1715, 1716. Billingsgate Lorry Park, London. Ceramic phase 9, dating 1270-1350.
Similar to: PAS, Wales. Item: NMGW-37D49E
Similar to: PAS, South Oxfordshire. Item: SUR-33CF97.


sister_raphael: (supercute)

This is one of the most stunning artifacts from the early 15th century that I have ever seen.

The photo comes from a book printed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and I've not seen a colour photo of this online nor seen it written about or mentioned in passing in the enormous amount of writings about hygiene or medieval bath and beauty blogs.

The comb is in the private collection of a lady who loaned it for the publication and it shows not only the astonishing level of boxwood carving itself, but two little sliding chambers which would have housed cosmetics, or perhaps perfume, for the lady to take with her where ever she traveled.

I, for one, think this is a genius idea! Less clutter in one's purse and a smidge of concealer for touching up foundation and a little balm for the lips. I would very much love one of these today.

June 2025

S M T W T F S
12 3456 7
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     

Syndicate

RSS Atom

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated 10 June 2025 07:22 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios