Roman Leather Bikini

Roman Leather bikini (21233)  

(Objects from the Museum of London)

These are thought to be the lower half or trunks from a leather bikini. They are tied on each side of the hips with leather laces. The trunks are small in size and were probably worn by young girls who were acrobatic dancers. Roman mosaics show female gymnasts wearing similar bikinis. A total of 14 Roman leather bikini trunks are known from London but these are amongst the best preserved. Recovered from the contents of a rectangular well which had gone out of use in the 1st century AD

 

Face Cream (LLS02[12855]<3014>)

A small lead canister with a close-fitting lid. After excavation, conservators from the Museum of London found that it still contained a soft cream which has been chemically analysed as a cosmetic or face cream. The cream contained animal fat mixed with starch and with tin oxide added.