Crescent-Shaped Razor with Incised Decoration

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Crescent-Shaped Razor with Incised Decoration

Place of OriginItaly, Etruria

Date750-650 BCE

DimensionsMax H: 3 5/16 in. (7.2 cm); Max W: 4 in. (10.2 cm)

MediumBronze (cast, hammered/raised, and incised)

ClassificationMetalwork

Credit LineGift of an anonymous donor

Object number

1992.37

Not on View

DescriptionA crescent-shaped blade formed from a thin sheet of hammered bronze. The blade curves into a semi-circle, with one end tapering to a point and the other terminating in a cast handle. The handle features a circular loop surmounted by two stylized, opposing crescent-shaped protrusions. The surface of the blade is decorated with incised geometric patterns, consisting of concentric arcs following the curve of the spine and a band of short, radiating lines extending toward the cutting edge.

Label TextThis crescent-shaped razor is a rare example of personal grooming equipment from the Villanovan culture, the earliest Iron Age civilization of central Italy and the direct ancestors of the Etruscans. Hammered to the thickness of a wafer, the blade displays remarkable craftsmanship, combining functional design with ritual elegance. The surface is engraved with delicate geometric bands and radiating lines, motifs often interpreted as solar symbols in Villanovan art.

Such razors were typically found in the graves of elite men, suggesting that shaving was not just a daily routine but a significant social or ritual act, possibly marking a rite of passage. The stylized handle, featuring two horn-like projections, may represent simplified bird heads, a common protective motif of the period.

Comparative ReferencesSee also Cristofani, M. The Etruscans, A New Investigation, New York, 1979, p. 55, illus., an example from the Museo Archaeologico, Grosseto.