Historical Detectives: objects

Historical Detectives

Personal Hygiene Objects

Start

Ask yourselves these key questions!

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What is the object for?

What is the object made from?

Who might have owned the object?

What do you think this object might have been used for?

What do you think this object might have been used for?

What do you think this object might have been used for?

What do you think this object might have been used for?

What do you think this object might have been used for?

What do you think this object is made from, and who might have owned it?

What do you think this object is made from, and who might have owned it?

What do you think this object is made from, and who might have owned it?

What do you think this object is made from, and who might have owned it?

What do you think this object is made from, and who might it be for?

This toothpick is made of enamel, and gold. It has a large ruby set into the design. It depicts a skull at one end, with a scythe at the other, which was used to pick the teeth. The idea was to remind the user that death is an inevitable consequence of the passage of time. Given the materials, craftsmanship and details, this would have been a treasured item for a wealthy noble.

Toothpick

V&A Collection (c.1630-60)

This chamberpot was used as a toilet, and it would have been emptied into fields or midden heaps, which were local rubbish/ dung collections. It is made of earthenware, which was inexpensive. It has a handle and a line decoration around the circumference. It is a quality object in very good condition, and might have been owned by a middle class person.

Chamberpot

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (late 16th century)

Basin and ewer

This is a basin (bowl) and a ewer (jug), used to pour and store water for light washing, mainly for the hands. This example is made of silver in the shape of a mermaid and a large shell. It is exquisite and almost too fine for use, so might have belonged at court for use at state banquets.

V&A Collection (1610-11)

Ear scoop and nail picker

This is a device for scooping out ear wax (the spoon end) and picking dirt from nails (the pointy end). It is made from silver in a decorative, twisted pattern, and has a hoop which suggests that it was worn or dangled from something else. This wouldn't have been cheap, and someone wanted to show it off, so perhaps it belonged to a wealthy middling sort.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (16th century)

Nit comb

This is one of 83 nit combs recovered from the Mary Rose. It is made of wood and would have been used by sailors to comb lice out of their hair. Some of the combs from the Mary Rose still have the dead nits in them!

Mary Rose Collection (16th century)

Which is your favourite object?

What sorts of objects might remain for future historians to help them undertand how we maintain personal hygeine in the 21st century?