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General |
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Illustrations of Arabic Dental Extraction |
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19th C French Plates with Dental Illustrations |
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Two old pages with beautifully ornate illustrations of dental surgery as
practiced by Ottoman Turks in what may be the 15th Century. The first page is exquisitely
gilded with gold leaf which the scanned pictures do little justice.
It shows a dental surgeon wrestling to extract a tooth with
some form of dental forceps. The second shows the surgeon using a
crude bowstring drill with other dental instruments laid at his
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Six delightful examples of late 19th C
French flatware with a humorous depictions of the agonies of dental
extraction done in fine artwork. Three of the plates are damaged and have had "museum
repairs" but they are rare and very collectable pieces and remain
a very attractive ensemble. They are numbered 1,2,3,6,10 and 11 and
would have been part of a larger set. The inscriptions read: "Quel
courant d'air!!!" "La nuit est assez agitée" "Il se couche inquiet"
"Sur trois qui restent deau fendues et une
gâtée" "Cett fois
c'est la bonne" and "C'a Y est!!!" |
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16th Century Dental Mouth Gag |
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Masticator by Aubry |
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A
late 16th century mouth gag. A similar instrument,
Paré's mouth gag C 1570 from the Royal College of
Surgeons of England is shown on page 212 of Elizabeth
Bennion's "Antique Medical Instruments". The thread of
the screw is reversed at its centre so that turning
the fixed wing nuts opens or closes both handles at the
same time. Having the fulcrum so close to the blades
allowed considerable force to be applied through this
mechanism. It would have been used to pry open the
mouths of patients with lockjaw who might not
otherwise be fed and would also have been used as a
dental mouth gag. Note the heart shaped makers mark on
one of the handles. |
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A French masticator to aid the chewing
of food in the elderly and edentulous. This is a remarkably well put
together instrument; the metal is steel and the handles are I think
horn. The teeth are held together in the resting state by a sprung
clip which secures the ends of the handles. Signed on the inside of
one handle "Masticateur Carrier" and on the other "A Aubry Bd. St
Michel 6. Paris Brevete". It packs away in a typically French
etui. I doubt you will see a finer masticator. |
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Antique Dental Descaling Set |
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Vintage Dental Separator |
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A dental de-scaling set from the late
19th C complete with its original mirror lined with red and white
trim. The mother of pearl handle screws onto seven different tools,
the stems of which are decorated with a beaded design. The hinge and
latches are firm and secure. There is a partitioning silk lined card
which protects the mirror from the instruments. |
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An early 20th century dental
file used to separate teeth. Works on a similar
principle to a miniature hack saw but the teeth are
very much finer and the length of the blade is only
30mm. Tightening the screw at the and of the handle
pulls the blade taught or allows it to be loosened and
removed. The handle is made from Bakelite. The
instrument is signed with an unknown makers mark. The last
picture shows a similar 19th century example with an
ivory handle. |
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Vecabé Dental Model Jaw and Teeth |
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Antique Ivory Dental File |
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A well fashioned French antique
dental model by Vecabé. The full set of teeth are made from enamel
and would have been painstakingly crafted and fired individually.
Each one is secured to the mandible with brass pin and can be
removed. They fit together perfectly to form an anatomically correct
bite. The heavy metal block opens through 180 degrees to allow
detailed inspection. On the upper surface is engraved "Vecabé Brevet
D'invention 675996 SGDG Modèle D'Examen Destiné a L'Art Dentaire
Brevets Dans Touts Les Pays Civilisés 12032". Dates to the 1920's. |
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An antique dental
file used for making separations between teeth. The
frame is made from steel and holds a blade of course
wire. The wire is secured with two tiny wing nuts and
can be tightened with a screw mechanism at one end.
The handle is made from crosshatched ivory with a
silver mount. The instrument is unsigned and would
originally have been part of a set probably dating to
the early 19th century. Dimensions 150 x 15 x 8 mm mm. |
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19th
C Horn Dental Mercury Jar |
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An early 19th century European dental mercury jar. It is
made from horn; the bottom section from dark horn, the
lid from light horn (the original
cork has been replaced). Dimensions: 90 mm high 40 mm
diameter. Amalgams of mercury with coin silver were
first used in dentistry in 1819. |
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Oral Hygeine |
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Ivory Tongue Scraper |
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Ivory Tortoise
Shell Tongue Scraper |
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An
unusual jointed ivory tongue scraper as seen in
Benion's book on Antique Dental Instruments. You can
see the craftman's "tricks of the trade where in order
to prevent the ivory cracking when the strip is bent
at over 90 degrees it was scored with parallel "Z"
plasties. |
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A delicate mid 19th century ivory and
tortoise shell tongue scraper. The ivory is fixed to the
tortoise shell with metal pins. No cracks chips or damage. |
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Ivory and Tortoise-Shell Tongue Scraper |
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Green Ivory and Silver Tongue Scraper |
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In
Victorian times after a heavy night out it was common
practice to clean the tongue with a tongue scraper.
This example is made from a flexible band of
tortoise-shell with ivory handles. In the resting
position it is flat but would have been held between
thumb and index finger of each hand and used in a
U-shape. It is in perfect condition. |
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A good quality antique English ivory
and silver tongue scraper. The silver is not hallmarked but the
green colouring of the ivory handle was a practice which was typical
of the period around the 1820s and 1830s. |
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Ivory and Gold Toothpick case |
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Antique and Vintage Toothpicks |
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 A 19th
century ivory toothpick case with gold inlaid border
and gold hinges and release catch. There is a crack on
the back hinge which is stable |
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A
selection of antique and vintage toothpicks made from
various metals including hallmarked silver and gold
plate. There are different ways to extend the
pick ranging from a manual sliding central rod to
various ratchet mechanisms. |
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Figural Toothpick and Ear Scoop |
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An
antique figural ear scoop and toothpick in the
form of a monk in his habit. It is made from hand
carved horn and dates to the late 19th century. The
head, ear scoop and toothpick are fastened by brass
pins and rotate freely. |
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Dental Mirrors |
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Collection of Dental Mirrors |
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Ivory dental mirror (1830s) |
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A
collection of three early to mid 19th century antique dental
mirrors in the classic shape, all with convex mirrors.
One in ivory, one in wood and the third in gilt brass. |
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A rare folding ivory dental mirror
dating to 1830. This same type of mirror is illustrated on page 113
of Elisabeth Bennion's book 'Antique Dental Instruments' (taken from
the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford) |
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Clear Tortoise Shell Dental Mirror |
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Dental Mirror with Pivot Hinge |
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early 19th century dental mirror made from clear amber
tortoise shell which is completely translucent without
markings and is the rarest form of this material. |
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 A 19th century dental
mirror which moves freely in all directions on a pivot
hinge and with a nicely turned bone handle. |
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Antique Dental Mirror in Ivory |
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Crested
Guilloché
Silver Dental Mirror |
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A lovely dental mirror in ivory
dating to circa 1850. The edge of the glass is beveled and looks as
if it is lined in satin wood. The aside from minor age related
changes the mirror is essentially unmarked and the ivory is in
perfect condition. |
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An unmarked silver folding dental
mirror. The silver is finely engraved Guilloché style. The border of
the mirror is beveled in silver. On the centre of the back is an
oval crest with a spread eagle between two crowns. Dimensions 110 mm
extended, 30 mm x 60 mm folded. |
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Forceps |
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17th
Century Italian Dental Forceps |
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18th Century Davier (Dental Forceps) |
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delightful pair of Italian dental forceps with the
jaws made in the shape of an animal head. Dating to
the 17th century these are identical to the forceps
displayed in the Wellcome museum (see last photograph) |
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A
pair of late 18th century French dental forceps for
molar extractions. The unusual feature is the screw
mechanism fixed to the inside of the handles which
prevents the forceps closing beyond a given point and
avoids fracturing the tooth. Similar forceps can be
seen in the Museum of Swedish Dental Society in
Stockholm (Elizabeth Bennion's "Antiques Dental
Instruments" p51) and in the Museum of the Royal
College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. |
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Antique Forged Steel Dental Forceps |
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18th Century Small Dental Forceps |
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A fine pair
of antique forged steel dental forceps from Brussels.
The claw is shaped in the form of a beak and the handle decorated in
a style in keeping with mid 18th century. The instrument is
unsigned. Dimensions 150 mm long x
90 wide |
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A pair
of 18th century forged steel dental forceps from
Amsterdam. The piece is signed on the handle " Jacob
". Dimensions 140 mm x 15 (handle width) x 6 mm (bite) |
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18th Century Dental Forceps |
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Jeweled Dental Forceps 1850 (Sherwood) |
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A pair
of 18th century forged steel dental forceps from
Amsterdam. Unsigned. These are long but have a very
narrow bite and may have been used for paediatric
dentistry. Dimensions 145 mm x 12 (handle width) x 3
mm (bite) |
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A remarkable set of dental forceps by
Sherwood of Cincinnati dating to 1850. The pivot of the forceps have
been set each side with with a red coloured stone, either ruby or
garnet. A similar type of forceps, but
without jewels are shown by Arnold 1850 on page 60 in Bennion's 'Antique Dental Instruments'. The craftsmanship is superb with right and left sided
forceps built and ornately engraved to the highest standard. Bejeweled dental
tools are exceptionally rare and occasionally seen in the
presentation sets with ivory handles. This is the first example I
have seen of jewels set in a steel instrument |
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Dental Forceps after Dubs 1848 (Evans) |
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Ebony Dental Goats Foot Elevator |
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Forceps similar to a pair from 1948 by
CH Dubs shown on page 59 in Bennion's 'Antique Dental Instruments'
and displayed in the Macauley Museum of Dental History S Carolina. A
central telescopic screw extends and is held secure with the blades
allowing the root to be tapped. Sadly all before the advent of the
anaesthetic. This set of forceps is marked M Evans who was an
American instrument maker in the Civil War Period. |
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A quality early 19th century goats
foot elevator in ebony steel and brass. The handle is made from
hexagonal crosshatched ebony and the brass mounting is unusually
ornate. Originally from France it is accompanied by a 19th century
diagram explaining its use from the museum in which it was once
displayed. |
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Pelicans |
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Early Dental Pelican with Screw
Mechanism |
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17th Century
Douglas Lever |
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This is a rare and important dental
pelican dating to the late 16th or early 17th century with an
adjustable pivoting arm which can be raised or lowered by turning a
key linked to a screw mechanism anchored by a central frame. The
distal end of the fixed arm has attractive cross-hatching consistent
with the period. The shape of the screw head is also characteristic
of pieces from the late 16th century. There are only minimal signs
of corrosion and the threads of the screw mechanism are intact and
clean and the instrument in perfect working order. |
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An extremely rare 17th century dental
pelican which combines dental forceps and elevator and was referred
to as a "Douglas Lever". Such mutli-purpose instruments are seldom
seen and this is only the third such example of which I am aware.
Bennion cites one of similar function dating to 1620 in 'Antique
Dental Instruments' and there is one in the archive section of
Alex Peck's site. This is a beautifully made piece
constructed to the highest standard and unusually for an instrument
of this age it is signed "I Hall". Note the style of the I and the A
in keeping with its 17th century origins. |
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Tooth-keys |
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19th C Tooth Key With Handle Mechanism |
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19th C Ivory Tooth Key (Charriere) |
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An unusual dental key with an
ingenious handle mechanism. Pressure on the metal lever over
the handle causes the clasp to rotate the hinged claw against the
bolster. This allows the clasp to secure the root of the tooth
without needing to rotate the tooth key. The handle is elevated by a
steel spring which keeps the clasp extended in the resting position.
The handle is made from rosewood and has an ivory inset on one side
for orientation. Unsigned but high build quality and an extremely
rare dental instrument, of French origin. |
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A very fine dental tooth key from the
the renowned 19th century French medical instrument make Charriere.
The handle is made from elephant ivory (Schreger
lines are clearly visible). The key itself detaches from the
hand by means of an attractively carved catch which allows the key
to be rotated into North, South, East or West positions and held
firmly in place. More commonly made from wood or bone it is rare to
find a signed ivory example in such good condition. |
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Horn Paediatric Tooth Key |
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Mechanical Antique Dental Tooth Key |
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An
antique dental tooth key dating to the early 19th
century. The handle is made from horn. The shaft and
claw are from tempered steel. This instrument is tiny,
measuring only 10.5 cm in length and would have been
used for paediatric dental extractions. |
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A
rare ebony handled antique dental tooth key which has
a mechanism allowing the claw to be turned with the
introducing hand. The instrument dates to the early
19th century and is of Dutch origin. It is signed J
Pohl 's Hage. |
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Early 19th C
Ivory Tooth Key |
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A beautiful dental ivory tooth key
with engraved crosshatching and concentric lines dating to the early
or mid 19th century. This is almost certainly of English origin but
it is not signed.
The handle is made from elephant ivory (Schreger
lines are clearly visible). The steel key itself detaches from the
handle and can be rotated through 90 degrees allowing the dentist
either to work with the other hand, or from different angles. There
is a small chip at one end of the handle and a few hairline cracks
in the ivory in keeping with its age but otherwise the instrument
remains is in excellent condition. The handle is secured with a
sprung steel catch which allows the shaft to click smoothly and
firmly in place in each position, as does the sliding mechanism on
the shaft which lowers a pin to secure the claw. |
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