19th century carved bone and horn folding toothpick

$42.00

Antique sewing boxes often included personal grooming tools in addition to the expected scissors and needle case, such as earspoons, scent bottles, and in this case, a folding toothpick! The ornately carved handle is made from ox or cow bone and the blade is a thin slice of somewhat flexible horn (also cow or ox).

This is most likely an “orphan” object from a set of bone tools made in China for the European export market in the late 1800s.

1-1/2″ long closed, 2-3/4″ long fully opened.In excellent condition with nicely incised detail and tiny red ink accents.

1 in stock