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Hairbrush

1870-79 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Hairbrushes made specially for babies and children were in mass production by the early 1880s, and often had softer bristles than those for adults. The backs and handles were available in a number of decorative materials such as mother of pearl, as well as plain wood. The most popular were natural ivory or bone, perhaps because of the association of colours such as white and cream with infancy. Ivory also lent itself to the application of the child's name or initials, or the word 'Baby' in silver or in coloured paint, a decorative treatment which continued even when celluloid was introduced as a cheaper substitute.

Baby's hairbrushes, especially those with silver backs, were popular birth or christening presents, often as part of a set with a comb, and brush and mirror sets were available for older children. Some firms, such as Kent's (which had the royal warrant) carried out a repair service to re-tuft the bristles or repair the backs of their products.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Wood, bristle
Brief description
Child's hairbrush, of wood set with natural bristle, made in England by S Maw Son & Thompson
Physical description
The brush has an oval back and shaped handle of polished and varnished wood, set with natural bristles (probably hog).
Dimensions
  • Length: 19cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
S MAW SON & THOMPSON/ LONDON ENGLAND/ 6
Credit line
Gift of Edna Field
Object history
Used by the children of the donor's grandparents, George & Sarah Mitchell of Shamley Green, Surrey: George, born ca. 1879; Mary Jane 'Polly' born 1880; William 'Jack' born 1881; Emma Victoria, born 1884; Lizzie 'Lily', born 1885; Frederick Charles, born 1887; Minnie, born 1891; Bartimeus, born 1894; Alice Evelina, born 1899 (the donor's mother).
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Summary
Hairbrushes made specially for babies and children were in mass production by the early 1880s, and often had softer bristles than those for adults. The backs and handles were available in a number of decorative materials such as mother of pearl, as well as plain wood. The most popular were natural ivory or bone, perhaps because of the association of colours such as white and cream with infancy. Ivory also lent itself to the application of the child's name or initials, or the word 'Baby' in silver or in coloured paint, a decorative treatment which continued even when celluloid was introduced as a cheaper substitute.

Baby's hairbrushes, especially those with silver backs, were popular birth or christening presents, often as part of a set with a comb, and brush and mirror sets were available for older children. Some firms, such as Kent's (which had the royal warrant) carried out a repair service to re-tuft the bristles or repair the backs of their products.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.43-1985

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Record createdApril 5, 2006
Record URL
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