Thread: Early 1800's Dearden Sheffield couple

Perhaps a month ago, my dear friend Rsso (not sure if he's on here) spotted these razors and we immediately fell in love. After some hassle around logistics, I finally have them in my hands.

The intention was to clean them up, hone them up and put them to good use. Currently I'm stuck at phase 0, where I can't get past starring at them.

Anyway, I'll get to them, for sure. Right now, I've just wiped them down with a clean, dry towel and gave the scales a bit of a polish to make them shine and see what's required here. They will need some repair, one has cracked near the wedge (looks like a tear), otherwise all good...

Wow those are sweet! Thanks for the share

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Gorgeous !

Wondrous find! You are among the blest!
~Richard

Meanwhile, we know more about the maker and the razors.

First, the scales are dyed horn. I guess the regulars around here didn't need to be told. For me, I had to inform myself online.. Even before the acquisition, it was clear to me, no ancient turtles were harmed in making these... anyway, moving on.

One friend contacted another, finally recommending Mr. Zak Jarvis (The Shivering Beggar blog) and this is what Zak had to say:

"Oh, what a beautiful pair of razors!

I think those are most likely from 1810-1820, but the style overlapped some. The 'Ne Plus Ultra' etching on the spine was being advertised from 1806 onward.

If you hold up the scales to a very bright light, razors from near the beginning of the 1800's have three holes in the pewter wedge. The holes are arranged around the pin & washer.

I have no idea why the holes were there, but they seem to have stopped making them that way around 1810.

The name is definitely a Sheffield name. There were a wide variety of Deardens making a wide variety of steel goods. Mostly scissors and butchers knives in the 1820's. Most likely, it was someone from that family in a less successful business that didn't make it into a commercial directory, or possibly just selling razors before going into a main line of business."

Later on, he added:

"On the other hand, a quick look at the apprentice registry cleared things up immediately.

Jonathan Dearden, who was trained by Jonathan France and made a freedman right about the right time -- 1797. He seems to have still been in business by the 1820's, so he clearly kept working, and he was trained as a general cutler, so razors wouldn't have been an unusual thing for him to make.

Oh, the scales are definitely dyed horn.

...

I'm very glad to help out!"



... and I am very grateful to all the gents involved in the acquisition. [emoji1317]

I'm member, from ... couple of minutes ago

Welcome, what an introduction.

Love the razors, best dyed scales I have seen, and love the pinning.

Very nice find, enjoy…

wow. beautiful razors. congratulations.

Have to mention and thanks @celticcrusader for helping with this lot

Sold I'll take them

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