Surgical instrument set, Europe, 1650-1685

Silver mounted shagreen instrument case, which belonged to a Dr. Shumatt about 1685, containing one scalpel and two metal bits, (? curettes), European, 1650-1685

This instrument case contains a scalpel and curettes, which were instruments used for scraping and cleaning a diseased surface. It is covered with shagreen (stained fish skin) with silver decorations. The handwritten inscription in one of the drawers reads “Dr Shumatt surgical case came from France in the time of the Revolution – The abolition of the Edict of Nantes 1685”. The Edict of Nantes, 1598, gave some religious freedoms to French Protestants, known as Huguenots, who previously had been persecuted. Many Huguenots left France and brought their skills to other countries in Europe.