Casgliadau Arlein

Rectangular blade with slightly converging edges. Both ends are decoratively shaped into a deep complex pattern. One edge is plain, the other is thick and turned over at 90 degrees with a chip carved and shaped edge leading to a curved handle. The handle has raised edges, one of which has a series of chip-carved semi-circular ribs, the other two rows of oblique nicks. The object is complete bar a fragment at one corner of the blade and the end of the handle. Razors are known in Roman contexts with similarly-shaped blades and curved handles but none so lavishly decorated. If this object is a razor then the deeply cut decoration may be intended to stop the hand slipping when wet. Against this identification is the fact that the plain edge never appears tohave been sharpened to a cutting edge, on the contrary it is very rounded and thin. Condition: complete bar a fragment at one corner of the blade and the end of the handle.