Roman Metalwork: Bronze needle
Inv. No.: 85.027
Provenance: Roman
Date: c. 1st century BC-1st century AD
Length: 142mm
Width: c. 0.8-5 mm
Three needles or bodkins (85.027, 85.028, 85.029) made from lengths of bronze tapering to a point at one end and with an eye at the head end, used for holding thick thread. The round or oval eyes are somewhat unusual since most examples of Roman needles have elongated oval or rectangular eyes. The largest (85.027) has a flattened rectangular cross section, an oval eye and a flat head with a slightly worn and irregular straight end. Otherwise, the needle is in very good condition, bronze in colour with some dark patina. 85.028 is round in cross section and is slightly bent near the pointed end. The eye is situated very close to the rounded head and is comparatively large, with only a thin rim of metal enclosing it. The piece is in good condition with a dark patina and a few spots of light green. 85.029 is roughly square in cross section, flattening towards the rounded head with a more or less round eye. The surface is rough with a light green patina plus some rust.
Function:
Used for sewing heavy thread made from material such as wool or leather or perhaps to make holes in cloth or leather. Another possibility is use as part of surgical equipment: the square and rectangular examples have sharp edges and could have been used for suturing wounds (although such needles were usually three cornered) while the round one may have been used to secure bandages.
Manufacture:
Probably forged.
Bibliography:
Manning, W. H., Catalogue of the Romano-British Iron Tools, Fittings and Weapons in the British Museum, London, British Museum, 1985, 35-37 ("Needles").
Milne, J. S., Surgical Instruments in Greek and Roman Times, Chicago, Ares, 1976 (originally published Oxford, 1907), 74-76.
Wilson, L. M., The Clothing of the Ancient Romans, Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins Press, 1938, 31 ("Sewing").
Comparanda:
Ancient Lives: Greeks, Romans & Etruscans. Artefacts from the Collection of the National Museum of Antiquities at Leiden, the Netherlands, exhibition catalogue, Perth, Western Australian Museum, 1999, Nos. 114 (1st-2nd century bronze bodkins; rectangular eyes) and 116 (1st-3rd century AD bone and iron needles).
Manning, W. H., Catalogue of the Romano-British Iron Tools, Fittings and Weapons in the British Museum, London, British Museum, 1985, Pl. 15, D13-D33 (especially D17 and D18, both oval eye and round shank).
Milne, J. S., Surgical Instruments in Greek and Roman Times, Chicago, Ares, 1976 (originally published Oxford, 1907), Pl. XVII, 2 (round with rectangular eye with rounded corners; for sewing bandages) and 4 (three cornered bronze with oval eye; surgical).
Rediscovering Pompeii, exhibition catalogue, 4th edition, Roma, "Lrma" di Bretschneider, 1992, No. 29, c and d (similar bronze needles with round eyes in a holder for medical instruments).
Wilson, L. M., The Clothing of the Ancient Romans, Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins Press, 1938, Fig. 20 (Roman needles).