Archaeology — Roman;150
Tin, tin alloy, canister
Small canister with close-fitting lid. After excavation, conservators found that it still contained a soft cream which has been chemically analysed as a cosmetic or face cream. The cream contained animal fat mixed with starch and with tin oxide added.
The container was found during excavations of a Roman temple complex in Tabard Square in Southwark in 2003. It had been placed, along with other ritual items, as an offering to the gods in the boundary ditch surrounding the temples.
Few examples of cosmetic creams survive from the Roman period and the soft paste started solidifying as soon as the pot was opened. The fat and starch, mixed together in the correct proportions, would have produced a skin moisturiser while the tin oxide gave the complexion a translucent glow.
- Category:
- Archaeology
- Object ID:
- LLS02[12855]<3014>
- Object name:
- tin, tin alloy, canister
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- Roman;150
- Material:
tin alloy
- Measurements/duration:
- H 53 mm, DM 58 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 80%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Archaeological archive
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.