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Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on February 5, 2014 at 5:19pm

Dentist's window display, France, 1875-1885

Rather more enticing than today's adverts for questionable forms of cosmetic dentistry, this display of ivory dentures and extracted teeth graced the window of J Petit, a dentist who worked in Paris during the late 1800s.

Passers-by would have no doubt about the nature of Petit's business - even if they couldn't read. Their own teeth are unlikely to have been quite so pretty.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on February 5, 2014 at 5:18pm

Barber-surgeon's case, France, 1715-1830

A barber-surgeon's job went way beyond shaving and cutting hair. They also performed simple surgery, such as bloodletting, and treated minor wounds and injuries.

Some of the tools of the barber's trade served a dual purpose. This silk-lined oak case contains 20 shaving accessories, including an assortment of glass and pewter bottles to carry and heat water, and porcelain cups and brushes to apply shaving soap and cream to the face.

It also contains two cutthroat razors. The razors would have been ideal for opening veins while the shaving bowl, with detachable chin plate, could have been used to catch the blood.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on February 5, 2014 at 5:17pm

Wax vanitas, Europe, 1701-1800

"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity". This verse from the biblical book of Ecclesiastes is scratched onto the front of this vanitas, a work of art intended to remind the viewer of the shortness of human life, the uselessness of vanity and the certainty of death.

This example features many symbols typical for this type of object, such as a skull and insects that feast on decaying flesh. The other side shows the face during life.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on February 5, 2014 at 5:17pm

Set of 13 spirit bubbles, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1801-1900

No, not a plate of eyeballs but spirit bubbles. Although sometimes used in scientific research, historically they were used mainly to test the alcohol content of spirits such as gin, whisky, rum or brandy.

Numbers 22 and 23, for instance, would be used to test the proof of a double whisky; if it was the correct proof, the glass ball would sink to the bottom.

The set was made by A Lovi, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 19, 2014 at 2:11pm

1800's Vampire Killing Set ...

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 20, 2011 at 1:28pm

Shackles were used as a method to capture and subdue a prisoner.  They are fasteners used on a person’s feet or hands to keep them from escaping.  They have been called swivels, manacles, swivels and handcuffs. Older models were one size, heavy figure eights of iron.  Present day handcuffs are much lighter in weight and are easily adjusted to fit most offenders.

Leg shackles have also changed throughout history.  They began as heavy iron rings cuffed around the ankle, attached together with an iron chain.  The iron shackles dug into prisoners ankles.  Often they were attached to a ball-weight as well.  Bilboes were a style of iron leg shackle that attached the cuffs with an iron rod, making movement awkward and difficult.  They have also become lighter and less cumbersome in present day, but they still make movement difficult

Comment by Crystalis DeCavalier on November 21, 2009 at 1:07pm

Well this isn't an odd device and by comparison to some of these item it isn't very old at all but I though the folks in this group might get a kick out of seeing the history of the Coca Cola bottle.

Coca Cola History: Left to Right 1899 – 1900 – 1915 – 1916 – 1957 – 1986

Comment by Rev. Allen M. Drago ~ Traveler on October 19, 2009 at 10:57pm

Comment by Crystalis DeCavalier on August 18, 2009 at 4:53pm

Thank you for the invite!

Comment by Rev. Allen M. Drago ~ Traveler on August 17, 2009 at 10:07pm

Medical equipment. Any one want to play at being the patient?

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