Straight Razor Auction Ending 12/12

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Cased Matched Pair of Carved Natural Material Handled Straight Razors having blades etched in gold “CONQUERER” and “PEERLESS” fitted in lined, flat presentation case. Unmarked.

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Cased Matched Pair of DORKO Mother of Pearl and Abalone Handled Straight Razors fitted in flat, lined presentation case. The blades are etched and gold washed. Each handle has four panels of pearl and three of abalone attached to the metal liners of each side. C-1900.

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Cased Matched Pair of Genuine Carved Bone Handled J. A. HENCKELS SOLINGEN, GERMANY Straight Razors having gold etched blades fitted in lined presentation case. A beautiful pair that is stamped with the New York distributor’s name on the pile side of the tangs: “GRAEF & SCHMIDT.”

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Rare, One-of-a-Kind, Joseph Rodgers & Sons Carved Mahogany WWI War Memorial Wall Plaque “TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF JOSEPH RODGERS & SONS LTD. WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR.” These words are flanked by the dates “1914” and “1918.” It measures 46.5”w x 22tx2”d. Across the top is carved “THEIR NAME LEVETH FOR EVER.” This most likely hung in the Rodgers factory or showroom at #6 Norfolk St. Sheffield. Please review the images of this magnificent wall plaque that lists every employee that lost their life in the “Great War,” WWI. Every letter and symbol was carved into the solid wood and then gold embossed. Note: The “Privates” were listed in alphabetical order on the first and last panel with the officers listed in the center panel. Captain John Rodgers is listed at the top of the center panel. In the book “Exhibition Knives Joseph Rodgers & Sons The Samuel Setian Collection” by Abel Domenech being offered as Lot 88 in this auction, this plaque is mentioned along with the fact that Joseph Rodgers lost 55 men in this World War. I quote from the book,”Rodgers alone suffered a loss of fifty five of his workers in the trenches.” (See write up in the book in one of the photos of lot 88).Personal Note: this plaque arrived at my home, brought by a London dealer specializing in antique Sheffield cutlery, wrapped in brown paper and tied up with twine. It was covered in dust. When I opened it there was so much dust and dirt in the lettering that you could not read any of the plaque. I purchased it and painstakingly cleaned letter by letter thereby discovering the gold in the lettering. It has been on display with me for the past 40+ years. Joseph Rodgers was in business from 1670 to 1970. If they were still in business I would make every effort to get it back in their hands.

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Cased Matched Pair of CAST STEEL Straight Razors having carved and checkered natural material handles fitted in slide top wooden case. C-1815. Smaller than usual, these razors were called “Travel Razors.” 

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Cased Matched Pair of Genuine Tortoiseshell Handled 18thC  Straight Razors having crudely stamped makers marks on tangs with “crown.”. Large iron pin covers. The side of the wood and leather slide top case is signed and dated 1795. Rare.

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Rare Cased 7-Day Set having one handle and 7 blades, one for every day of the week. C-1820. The blade tangs are stamped  “MACDANIE OXFORD.” This complete set has semi-wedge blades with the days of the week engraved on the top of each blade. The ornately carved natural material handle has an inlaid pattern of “pique work” pins on the front side surrounding the inlaid metal escutcheon plate. Note: Pique work was the art of inlaying tiny silver pins, by hand, into the predrilled holes of the pattern. It was a cottage industry done in homes around the manufacturing city of Sheffield. This artistry was popular from about 1820-1840's. Pique work was performed on horn, pearl, tortoiseshell, ivory and bone. You will not find two identical pieces. Even the pins are set by hand so they are not even in height. These one Handled seven day sets are extremely rare and were produced for a very short period of time, approximately 1820-1840. Further, each locking device is numbered to correspond with the specific shaped tang that fits it. In this case the number is "3” which is on the tangs. You could not lock these blades into the handle of any other similar set. The lined case is leather covered wood. This is one of the finest, early 7-Day sets I have ever seen.

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Cased Matched Pair of JOSEPH RODGERS Straight Razors with 7 other grooming items all having natural material handles with scrimshawed monograms. The lined, leather covered wood case is fitted with all 9 19thC tools. Case has lock and key. A wonderful grooming kit. C-1860.

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Cased Matched Pair of WADE, WINGFIELD & ROWBOTHAM SHEFFIELD Straight Razors fitted in a lined upright case having “MILITARY RAZORS” embossed in gold on the outer lid. The wedge blades are stamped “MILITARTY POINT.” Genuine bone handles. This rare maker also was known as a Bowie knife maker.

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Cased Matched Pair of BROOKES & CROOKES SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND Straight Razors having one piece mother of pearl handles. The elegant pair are fitted in a tortoiseshell and natural material covered wood, upright case with fancy shaped escutcheon plate on top. The tops of the blades are etched with scroll and the numbers “1” and “2.”

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Cased Matched Pair of W. REVITT Straight Razors having matching, intricate pique work pin art around the shield shaped escutcheon plates of the natural material handles. The beautiful pair are fitted in a lined, upright exotic wood case that is brass bound. A wonderful pair C-1830’s.

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Cased Matched Pair of One-Piece Mother of Pearl Handled Straight Razors having inlaid pique work pins around the escutcheon plate on the front and the same pattern on the pile side. Very unique as the head end caps and the tang pins appear to be gold. C-1815. This rare pair are fitted in a lined, upright, ornate Gutta Percha case. No maker’s marks remain. Evidence of Period Repair.

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Cased Matched Pair of SPIERS & SON HIGH SFREET OXFORD Straight Razors having one piece mother of Pearl handles monogrammed and decorated in black at the head end. The leather covered, lined upright case comes fitted with a CRITERION Strop fitted in a slip case. Blades are engraved. C-1840.

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A Fantastic Joseph Rodgers & Sons boxed, and Carved Natural Material Inner Case Fitted With Genuine Tortoiseshell Handled Grooming Tools. The lined outer box lid is detached. The folding inner case is scrimshawed with a monogram and the case hinge is engraved, gold colored and a full length piano hinge. The 7 tools are fitted into carved out compartments that were custom crafted for each tool. Example: another razor or pair of scissors would not fit in the slots made for those in place now. This C-1850 set is the only one that I have ever seen of this quality.  (See images for damage)

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Cased 18thC Matched Pair of Genuine Tortoiseshell Handled Straight Razors with Strop in a slotted pressed paper decorative box that is monogrammed. The Tortoiseshell handles are inlaid with monogrammed escutcheon plates to match the initials on the box, and engraved silver head end caps. A wonderful unmarked set.

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Cased Matched Pair of C. ALLEN DUKE STREET SHEFFIELD Straight Razors very rare scissor loop tang extensions. The upright, vertical  case is slotted and lined to accommodate the matched pair of natural material handled razors and the strop that completes it. The case is monogrammed “CP.” The strop, like the others found in sets, is double sided. C-1840’s. Rare.

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Cased Matched Pair of Carved Handled “Traveling Razors” Straight Razors stamped WARRANTED on the tangs fitted in a slide top wood case having original paper advertising. This small pair of razors has natural material handles carved in a wavy pattern on both sides. C-1815.

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Cased Matched Pair of J. TURNER Straight Razors in a Hallmarked Silver case, and Hallmarked silver matching Strop and Case, all having the same engraved, ornate monogram. The natural material handles have silver head end caps. The razor handle shield shape escutcheons have the same engraved monogram as the strop handle, case and slotted razor case. A fantastic silver set.

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Cased French Gentlemen’s Traveling Grooming Kit with Early French Matched Pair of Straight Razors from the Henry T. Lummus Collection. This typically French case is carved mahogany, brass bound, multi-layered and fitted with grooming tools, many of which still exist. The top portion is complete with knives, razors, metal container, inkwell, corkscrew, tweezers, inset mirror and scissors. The lower level has four more items as shown in the photos. The natural material handles on the pair of razors have inlaid shield shaped escutcheon plates on the front side. The tangs are marked in red “153” indicating part of the Henry T. Lummus collection. The number is an inventory number from the Henry T. Lummus Collection assembled before 1920. Lummus wrote articles on straight Razor Collecting for "Antiques" magazine in the 1920's. Link: https://www.mass.gov/person/henry-tilton-lummus From the above article: “Justice Lummus was an outspoken and forceful speaker when occasion required. He was distinguished in personal appearance and bearing. He was interested in antiques, particularly in old razors and furniture, of which he had an extensive private collection.” “Henry Tilton Lummus was born in Lynn, December 28, 1876, the son of William and Louisa Mitchell (Brown) Lummus. He attended the Lynn schools, was graduated from the Lynn Classical High School in 1894, and from the Boston University Law School in 1897, heading his class and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws, summa cum laude.” He died in 1960 at the age of 84.

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Cased French Gentlemen’s Traveling Grooming Kit with Early French Matched Pair of Straight Razors, inlaid mirror and fancy pair of scissors. This typically French style case is carved exotic wood in an oval shape with lock plate on front. It is multi-layered. The top portion is complete with razors and scissors. The lower level is empty. The natural material handles on the pair of razors have inlaid shield shaped escutcheon plates on the front side. The tangs bear the makers stamp.