Cosmetic set, nail cleaners

Copper alloy nail cleaners with inner line decoration. The pointed cleaning end is missing and the loop for attachment is broken. It is part of a cosmetic set consisting of a mortar, pestle, nail cleaners and tweezers (94.111/1-4).

Roman nails came in a variety of sizes, ranging from small iron hobnails for shoe soles to large nails that held the planks of boats together. They were all handmade and, therefore, their sizes vary. They had round or rectangular heads, although the larger nails had conical heads to withstand the force of the hammer blow when the nail was being driven into the wood. As many of the domestic buildings were made of wood, nails were required to hold the timber-frame together.