Strop
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 thin leather-faced strop. To "set" or maintain the smooth edge on a straight razor, the user would repeatedly draw each side of the blade across the leather.
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Date1780-1800
Medium/TechniqueWood, leather
DimensionsOverall: 5 3/8 in. x 1 1/8 in. x 3/16 in. (13.67 cm x 2.87 cm x 0.48 cm)
Credit LinePurchase, 1951
Object numberW-1598/E
DescriptionThin, rectangular piece of wood with a short, arched tab handle faced with leather on both sides. The leather on one side is partially saturated with a red paste and that on the other side is partially saturated with a black paste. 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.
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