Fin1e Presentation Dental Case, Great Britain, XIX century
A Fine Presentation Dentistry And Surgical Chest, English, Late 19th Century.
A Fine Presentation Dentistry And Surgical Chest, English, late 19th Century, the walnut case brass-bound, with brass engraved plaque to the lid with leopard crest reading LABOR OMNIA VINCIT, C.I.H., with four bramah locks and accompanying key for the lid and compartments to the front and sides, the hinged lid opening to a lined compartment with bevelled mirror, containing six cut glass bottles each with glass stopper and hinged caps bearing the same motto LABOR OMNIA VINCIT ("work conquers all"), three removable fitted trays with dental and surgical instruments, many with decoratively carved mother of pearl or tortoiseshell handles, above three shallow compartments containing a Claudius Ash & Sons dental foil booklet, the front with lower drawer opening to a fitted tray for dental forceps, the two sides each with a drawer containing additional instruments and accessories, each with an additional further discreet sliding drawer beneath, a comprehensive inventory available in the footnote below, the case with ornate brass carrying handles to the sides. Dimensions: 20in x 9 1/4in x 13 1/2in (51cm x 23.5cm x 34.5cm).
Content of the box
The chest contents comprising:
Top compartment: six cut-glass bottles and twelve additional glass bottles.
Top compartment, upper tray: five instruments, four with mother of pearl handles, (three spaces absent).
Top compartment, middle tray: complete with sixteen instruments, all with mother of pearl handles. Top compartment, lower tray: thirteen instruments and accessories, four with tortoiseshell handles, (seven spaces absent).
Front, lower drawer: thirteen steel dental forceps, (one space absent), and a further two steel instruments, (four spaces absent).
Right side drawer: ten dental pluggers, all with mother of pearl handles, (two spaces absent).
Right side drawer, lower tray: twelve steel dental instruments.
Left side drawer: twelve dental pluggers, all with mother of pearl handles.
Left side drawer, lower tray: twelve steel dental instruments.
Provenance:
Acquired on 12 September 2023 from Bonhams Auctions, London, Knightsbridge
Property from a private collection, acquired in the mid-20th century. By repute commissioned and used by a dental surgeon aboard an early Transatlantic luxury liner.
