Crocodile-tooth Tinder-tube (length 3 ins)

PART OF:
Bryant and May collection of fire-making appliances.
Made:
Bow and Bow and

Crocodile-tooth Tinder-tube (length 3 ins), with plain collar and cap, both of silver; exterior carved, somewhat rudely, into form of a female figure, simply attired, with fan in right hand; cap secured to elbow of figure by very slender oval-link chain; no steel. [One of thirteen specimens (nos 890-902). Each is made from a crocodile tooth. 'The open end of the tubes have a fixed collar, generally of silver, but sometimes of gold or brass ... The exterior of the tooth is, in most cases, beautifully carved, generally into the form of a lady attired in a European costume of the Eighteenth Century and holding a fan, the figure being curiously bent backwards following the curve of the tooth. In somes cases, however, the carving is either absent or of very poor artistic merit. The thirteen examples, all collected by Mr. Bidwell, comprise, with two exceptions, all that are known to exist anywhere. All came, Mr Bidwell believes, from Goa... and all are doubtless of native workmanship.']

Details

Category:
Firemaking
Object Number:
1937-682/896
type:
tinder tube
credit:
Wilkinson Sword Ltd.