Thread: 18th century bone razor handle

Guys
Just doing some research into a trash pile found by a metaldetectorist. Most items are pointing to around the 18th century and Dutch such as a lead inkwell, glass bottles etc. The different find is a bone handle from what I think is a razor. The pattern is quite distinctive and wondered if any of you have any idea of make or maker. Once the research is finished I'll be happy to post the results. Cheers

Ian

Are they thin or thick? Does the one pin and washer look like others you have seen?
If thick and not the normal pin they may have been made by the owner and decorated by him. It's hard to tell from the picture if it is bone a d what kind.

Can't wait to hear from others.

Thanks for the reply. The handle is about 8mm thick and I'm not familiar with razor handles at all. I'm pretty sure it's bone not ivory. As to the pattern it seems to be punched into the surface. Cheers

Either punched or burned in. If back to 1800's it could be whale bone. Might be a neat artifact.

8mm is an unlikely thickness for a razor handle. At that thickness I would think it to be more likely a knife handle or a hair brush handle. It is quite interesting though.

But if you look closely it had a robot at each end so not a brush. More pictures from other angles might help.

Interesting find, what the distance between pins? Without any provenance what you have there is an old piece of bone. It could very well be from a razor but I highly doubt that you will find a maker. Possibly from a razor like the one pictured below.


Or from a knife handle like that one from that time period.

Looks like bone or possibly antler. The decorations were made with a brace bit, probably by the owner.

Production razors were made and finished by the most skilled, especially in ornamentation. The uneven layout of the design and execution, indicate the hand of the owner. Also, the thickness of the scale, if it was from a razor. Many wood replacement scales of the period, are thick and clunky.

The pin and small domed bolster, are more consistent with later manufacture, late 1800’s, early 1900’s.

Is the other side flat?

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Looks like bone or possibly antler. The decorations were made with a brace bit, probably by the owner.

Production razors were made and finished by the most skilled, especially in ornamentation. The uneven layout of the design and execution, indicate the hand of the owner. Also, the thickness of the scale, if it was from a razor. Many wood replacement scales of the period, are thick and clunky.

The pin and small domed bolster, are more consistent with later manufacture, late 1800’s, early 1900’s.

Is the other side flat?

Unfortunately the guy who found it only gave me a little time to take photo's of all the items seems like its one part of the handle the other side is missing with approx 25mm at the end of it where it was joined. I think this means it was one piece of bone with the channel for the blade cut into the handle.

Martin Thanks for the pictures and reply. The distance between the pins in around 7.5cm. Unfortunately the guy who found it only gave me a little time to take photo's of all the items seems like its one part of the handle the other side is missing with approx 25mm at the end of it where it was joined. I think this means it was one piece of bone with the channel for the blade cut into the handle.