Hairbrush
Magdalen Feline (d.1796)
Category
Silver
Date
1754 - 1755
Materials
Silver
Measurements
108 mm (Length)
Collection
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
NT 935876.2
Summary
One of a pair of hair (?) brushes with silver backs, part of Lady Mary Booth's toilet service made by Magdalen Feline, 1754/55. 'The moulded and stepped borders are cast and the sheet tops are let in. The bristles are embedded in wood and secured by bent tongues. The engraved borders use a simplified repertoire of masks, shells, interlaced strapwork and flowers... In French toilet services these brushes were known as "vergettes" and were used for cleaning cloths or fabrics' (Lomax & Rothwell, 'Country House Silver from Dunham Massey', 2006, p. 142). Described in the 1791 inventory as '2 Silver Brush Tops'.
Provenance
Stamford collection; devised to the National Trust by Roger Grey, 10th Earl of Stamford (1896-1976). 'Christie's 20 April 1921 lot 101; bought by Crichton's for Schrager; bought privately by the 10th Earl of Stamford 9 March 1922' (Rothwell & Lomax, 'Country House Silver at Dunham Massey', 2006, p.136).
Marks and inscriptions
'Only one apparently marked on the underside with maker's mark' (Lomax & Rothwell, 'Country House Silver from Dunham Massey', 2006, p.142)
Makers and roles
Magdalen Feline (d.1796), silversmith