385 (12)

358

Cased mirrors

Smali metal-cased mirrors have only recently been recognised among excavated medieval finds, having previously been attributed to the Roman period (Guildhall Museum Catalogue 1908, 61 no. 109 & pl XXIV no. 1). Over twenty examples with a distribution from Winchester to Perth are listed in a seminal article (Bayley et al. 1984, 399-402). Prompted by this publication, several further examples have been identified from all over the country. Two basie forms of round hinged case enclosing the actual glass (which rarely survives) were distinguished: a robust copper-alloy form, and a morę varied category of lead-tin cases. The grozed glass was

238 Using a mirror, after British Library MS Harl.6563

held in place by a cement that occasionally sur-vives as calcium carbonate.

To these two categories of cases may tenta-tively be added two dises of decorated sheet metal, which, by analogy with morę expensive decorated cases of ivory, are probably from another category of larger mirrors, a complete example of which has yet to be found (cf figs 191 & 238).

(see frontispiece for a hinged mirror in use) Lead-tin cases

These are basically similar to, but not as robust as, the copper-alloy cases described below. The cast decoration and the sizes vary. The sides of the cases (in contrast to those of copper alloy) are usually bevelled. Not all of the foliowing listed objects are definitely mirror cases, but this seems the most probable identification.

1708    SWA81 acc. no. 3445 (context 2273) ceramic phase 8 fig 239

Incomplete; pewter (AML); corroded; d 45mm; no surviving tracę of lugs; decorated with a crude linear depiction of two opposed facing lion-like beasts in the rampant position, one of which is guardant, on a cross-hatched field; a plain vertical band lies between them, and there is a plain ring around the design; the limę cement and the lead backing for the glass survive extensively on the inside surface, but only traces of the glass remain (AML). (Published as pl LUId in Bayley et al. 1984).

A similar incomplete case with two lugs found in spoił dumped from the Billingsgate site (MoL acc. no. 84.260/1) depicts a stag attacked by two hunting dogs (Bayley et al. 1984 , 401), and another complete case with animal decoration is in the British Museum (acc. no. 1902, 5-29, 18).

1709    SH74 134 (386) 8 fig 239 Presumably a mirror case: pewter (AML); disc with no surviving tracę of lugs, cement or glass; d 43mm; a central motif of four circles and dots lies within two concentric circles; this is surrounded by a cross-hatched field, with six semicircular ares each defined by heavy lines, the centres of their circles being along the inside edge of another plain ring, again defined by