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Razor

Razor
Horn, iron alloy, copper alloy
1790-1800
Razor
Razor
Horn, iron alloy, copper alloy
1790-1800
Razor Horn, iron alloy, copper alloy 1790-1800
Status
On view
Label Text

Gentlemen in the eighteenth century often travelled with compact razor cases that held their personal set of shaving and dressing supplies. One such case, possibly belonging to George Washington, contained this straight razor. It bears the distinctive stamp of a long-handled curate's pipe on its shoulder, the trademark of cutler George Wostenholm of Sheffield, England. Drawing on its wealth of local iron and coal deposits, Sheffield developed into a leading manufacturing center for steel razors and knives by the end of the eighteenth century.

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Date1790-1800
Maker (English, Active: 1745 - 1823)
Geography Made - England
DimensionsOverall: 5 3/8 in. x 11/16 in. x 3/8 in. (13.67 cm x 1.75 cm x 0.97 cm)
Credit LinePurchase, 1951
Object numberW-1598/C
DescriptionStraight razor with dark horn scales or sides and short tang; tapering, oblong steel blade with square point and iron back attached between two scales with copper alloy rivet; a white metal spacer at the opposite end separates the two scales, and all are held together by another copper alloy rivet; the four bosses that surround the ends of the rivets on the exterior of the scales appear to be silver plated.
Published ReferencesStanley V. Henkels, Auction Commission Merchant, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 14 December 1920, Catalogue 1269, (Philadelphia: Stanley V. Henkels, 1920), Lot. 133. (Offered for sale but apparently not sold)

Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., Incunabula-American Association Books-Sets/Famous Classics of Science and Other First Editions-Autographs & Manuscripts/Birds-Flowers-Other Books . . . Public Auction Sale January 29 and 30 at 1:45 P.M. Catalogue 1220, (New York: Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., 1951), Lot 633.
MarkingsA long-handled curate's pipe is stamped on one side of shank.
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