Bidspirit auction | RARE ROMAN OPENWORK FIRE STARTER

RARE ROMAN OPENWORK FIRE STARTER - Ca. AD 200.A rare bi-facial open-work fire starter decorated with sun emblems and equipped with an integral loop. The fire starter was a crucial tool carried along with a piece of iron or flint and some dry material like fibres. Grasped firmly between the fingers and thumb, the fire starter's flattened base was deftly struck against the iron or flint, generating sparks. These sparks were then directed toward the dry tinder or fibres, causing them to smoulder and eventually catch fire.Size: 65mm x 22mm; Weight: 10gProvenance: Property of a professional London art expert; obtained from an old British collection formed in the 1980s.