Thread: T.F. Bastet

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Those scales may well be original, Bill.
IMO, they would look lovely as-restored and are likely be Bakelite, or hard-rubber, or variant. So slick and black can be had, I think.
Don't underestimate what you have. For whatever scales, a very nice razor.

It would seem Bastet was a seller in Amsterdam. I have to think this example is Solingen-made.
As has been said, it looks of a Griffon Antelope, perhaps Herder as well.

My sentiments exactly. I forgot to mention the scales, all razors of this type (likely German made) have been in plain black plastic scales.

Anyway. T.F. (Thomas François) Bastet was a instrument maker (I am pretty sure I read he made surgical instruments, not musical) born in 1828, who lived on the Kalverstraat (legendary shopping street in Amsterdam). By all logic, his son C.J. (Charles Jerôme) Bastet, born 1860, took over his father's business. Coutelier du Roi is French for Cutler to the Crown; from the Kalverstraat to the royal palace in Amsterdam (one of the many royal palaces, of course) is about 200 meters.

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Some useful information in this thread, although not all of it seems to be correct. For instance, I posted back then that "Bastet was a Dutch manufacturer of high quality cutlery and surgical supplies since 1684", but now I have no idea where I found that date - it seems very early. Although here it is mentioned that Bastet was purveyor to the crown during the reign of William III. However, it does not specify which William III. There was William III of England (Willem III van Oranje), who reigned 1689-1702 and then there was William III of The Netherlands (Willem III Der Nederlanden), who reigned 1849-1890. The latter seems to fit better though, as the 19th century razors carry the Coutelier du Roi marking.

One more correction/confirmation: I am pretty sure that D. (Daniel) Bastet (brought into the discussion by the late Neil Miller), referenced in 1824/25 to be a manufacturer of surgical instruments (and razors) was T.F. Bastet's father, as D. Bastet's operation was in The Hague, T.F. Bastet's birthplace. Who later, in turn, became a manufacturer of surgical instruments; it seems only logical he took over his father's (D. Bastet's) business.

So I think stub-tailed razors marked "Bastet" are likely made by D. Bastet in The Hague somewhere during the first half of the 19th century. Razors marked "T.F. Bastet" then would be made/commisioned by T.F. and C.J. Bastet. Charles Jerôme did not change the name, as "T.F. Bastet" was a well-established firm, and purveyor to the crown. They undoubtedly cooperated with one or more Sheffield razor manufacturers judging by the marking on my T.F. Bastet razor's box: "The Dutch-English Improved Razor" and the markings on WW243's Bastet: "Sheffield&Amsterdam". Although I do not see why they would not have made razors themselves, as all of them (Daniel, Thomas François and Charles Jerôme) were listed as manufacturers and retailers of cutlery and surgical instruments.

Pithor and Tom thanks again for the information. I found a very similar set of scales on the Strazor site on a Jacques LeCoultre frameback. It had the same discolored wedge (which is now white on the Bastet). Another fact about the scales: the razor centers perfectly in them. So the scales stay!
Logically, it doesn't make much sense for a razor marked Cutlers To The King would be be made in another country. That would be like American flags made in China.
Well, I guess the European royalty freely crossed borders and made hybrids...