Working tool - six antique shoehorns

A fascinating and varied collection of six antique shoehorns, dating from circa 1875–1925, a period in which personal care objects were not only functional but also witnesses of craftsmanship, material use and style. This set forms a small overview of the materials and techniques that were popular around the turn of the century in Europe.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries shoehorns were often made of brass, copper, celluloid, horn and tortoise-shell imitation. They were practical tools for pulling on shoes, but were also seen as elegant accessories for the wardrobe or dressing table. Many items were produced by specialized manufacturers of travel and grooming articles, while others were handmade by metalworkers or artisans.

The set shows an attractive variation in form and material:
• Brass shoehorns with a warm patina, typical of late-19th-century production. Brass was durable and was often used for household utensils.
• Celluloid and tortoise-shell imitation pieces with their characteristic amber-colored pattern. Celluloid was one of the first plastics and from about 1870 was widely used as a substitute for expensive tortoiseshell or ivory.
• An elegantly engraved brass example with decorative motifs and initials, indicating personal possession or a gift.
• A shoehorn with clear 19th-century repair, visible in the metal reinforcement and rear attachment. Such repairs were often made to preserve beloved items and today form an interesting historical detail illustrating the item’s history of use.
• A shoehorn with advertising inscription, a typical example of early marketing items from the first decades of the 20th century.

Together these shoehorns form a charming collection showing the transition from traditional materials to the first industrial plastics. The variation in form, patina and signs of use gives each piece its own character.

An attractive set for collectors of antique domestic items, grooming articles, travel accessories or vintage curiosa, but also a decorative addition for a classical interior or curiosity cabinet.

Dimensions shoehorn initials
Height 18.5 cm
Width 5 cm
Depth 1.5 cm

Photos provide a clear image of quality and are part of the description.

The whole will be well packaged and shipped with tracking. The shipping costs also include the cost of packing materials and transport. Pickup is only possible when the lot is bid to more than €50 and of course by appointment during office hours.

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