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LicenseFull dentures, vulcanite, plates, porcelain teeth, gilt springs
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Full dentures, vulcanite plates, porcelain teeth, gilt springs, made in England, 1890-1900
The first individual porcelain teeth were made by Italian dentist Guiseppangelo Fonzi (1768-1840) in 1808. The base is made from vulcanite (a form of hardened rubber). Vulcanite was introduced as a denture plate material in 1855. It had become almost universally used by the end of the century. This was despite the commission payable on each denture to patentees the Hard Rubber Company. Vulcanite is naturally brown. Ways were devised to give it a more natural appearance.
Details
- Category:
- Dentistry
- Object Number:
- 1980-428
- Materials:
- plates, vulcanite, teeth, porcelain and springs, gilt
- Measurements:
-
overall - current: 30 mm x 95 mm x 64 mm, .054 kg
overall - previous: 27 mm x 60 mm x 100 mm, .05 kg
- type:
- artificial teeth
- credit:
- Blaaberg, F.C.
