Thread: What made this razor worth $300?

I was following the auction of this razor.
I found it to be visually very attractive and it, for some reason, seemed very old.

It ended up selling for close to $300 - does anyone what it was? I couldn't find anything just searching for the key words in the ad.

Original ad:
Ancien rasoir Coupe Choux "Cler A Marseille" Chasse En Ècaille A Dècor Floral N | eBay

Don't know,nice looking razor,I'm more worried about possible cell rot.
Being tortoise shell, and not seeing the other side of the razor puts a flag up for me JMO.

Originally Posted by outback

Don't know,nice looking razor,I'm more worried about possible cell rot.
Being tortoise shell, and not seeing the other side of the razor puts a flag up for me JMO.

If it's tortoiseshell then cell rot is not an issue - although you can get bug bites just as with horn.

As for value - there's probably more work in those scales than you get from the whole of a $300 modern razor.

Art, antiques and craftsmanship from eras bygone are worth what someone will pay. I think that filigree and mother of pearl inlay are beautiful. The buyer thought they were, on an old razor, 300-hundred clams beautiful - not a great leap.

It is a French razor, piquee work in tortoise (the tortoise was heated and pieces were pressed into it). We can't say much based on scale and blade shape based on understanding of English razors (and even there it is an INCREDIBLY rough guide to age). It is definitely a collector piece, I can understand the price.

I think I have to agree with JimmyHAD. I have the same book & the blade might be later than the scales. I can see why it went for the price because the scales are so beautiful. I also don't think it would have cell rot because it appears to be original tortoise & even if it were dyed horn, it wouldn't have cell rot. It has some beautiful inlays on it. I would most definitely love to have it if the price was right, even though it is possible the blade may have been changed out!
I believe those scales had a blade in them that was much straighter w/o a stabilizer or thumb notch in it.

Nothing! In my opinion.

Looks like real tortoise with silver & MOP inlay.

Very old and in very nice condition for its age.

There is a segment out there who don't really care about the razor it's the scales that matter.

I very much like the razor and those scales. But not enough to drop that kind of coin on it.