Tooth brush
Category
Ivory and bone
Date
Unknown
Materials
Bone and bristle
Measurements
13 mm (Width); 140 mm (Length)
Collection
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
NT 39623.10.8
Summary
One of a collection of nine bone handled tooth brushes probably used to apply liquid polishes. Located in lower tray (NT39623.4). Handle is impressed on the top side; M EXTRA LEMMON CHEMIST EXETER. On the underside it is impressed; PATENT 6687 HYGIENIC. There are a series of green stripes at the back of the tapered brush head.
Provenance
Purchased from John Edwards in 2017, and brought back to Tyntesfield thanks to a generous anonymous donation. Antony Gibbs (1841-1907) purchased this lathe, grinding machine and the accompanying suite of accessories from Holtzapffel & Co in 1872. It was sold originally in 1852 to Count Dunin for £137.16.0. It was later returned to Holtzapffel & CO., refurbished and sold to Sir A Sterling in 1861. It was again returned to Holtzapffel, completely refurbished and resold in 1872 to Antony Gibbs Esq of Tyntesfield, Bristol for the sum of £220. On Antony’s death the lathe passed to his son Antony Hubert Gibbs of Clyst St George. In 1953 it was sold at an auction of the Gibbs estate and subsequently ended up in Scotland where it languished for the next 60 years, until it was acquired by John Edwards, an ornamental turner, who cleaned and overhauled it.