ITEM: Tweezers set (3 pieces) MATERIAL: Bronze CULTURE: Roman PERIOD: 2nd - 4th Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 104 mm x 24 mm diameter CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, acquired before 1990s Roman bronze tweezers were ubiquitous small tools that played a vital role in both the domestic and public life of the Roman Empire, primarily reflecting the Roman obsession with personal hygiene and grooming. Unlike their modern counterparts, most Roman tweezers were fashioned from a single, thin strip of bronze, folded over to create the spring tension necessary for grasping. The general design was simple but effective: two arms extending from a looped or curved spring head, ending in blunt or flat, finely crafted tips. They were often small—around 7 to 10 centimeters long—making them easy to carry. Due to their size, many pairs were found as part of a personal care set (toilet set), which often included other items like ear scoops and nail cleaners, sometimes all attached to a single suspension ring for carrying on a belt or in a small bag to the public baths. The most common function of these bronze tweezers, which the Romans called vulsella, was depilation, or the removal of unwanted body hair. Archaeological discoveries, such as the over 50 pairs found at Wroxeter in Britain, confirm the widespread nature of this practice. Both men and women adhered to a fashion of having smooth, hairless skin, which they often contrasted with the perceived "barbaric" appearance of unshaven peoples. This grooming was considered a sign of civilization, status, and cleanliness, particularly when performed at the Roman public baths, which were a central hub of social and personal care rituals. Roman authors, like Seneca, even lamented the shrill cries of the professional hair-pluckers working in the bathhouses, underscoring how common and even public this painful grooming was. Beyond cosmetics, bronze tweezers also served important functions in the field of medicine and minor surgery. While longer, more complex pincers (forceps) were used for major operations, the smaller bronze tweezers were essential instruments for delicate tasks. They could be used to remove splinters, foreign debris from wounds, or even to perform specific procedures recommended by Roman physicians, such as epilation for certain eye conditions. The difference between cosmetic and medical tweezers often lay in their overall length and the precision of the tips, but the basic material—bronze—was valued for its durability, resistance to corrosion compared to iron, and its ability to be crafted into the necessary precise, springy form. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.