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Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
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LicenseLower denture of hippopotamus ivory, on ceramic stand
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Lower denture of hippopotamus ivory, on ceramic stand
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Lower denture of hippopotamus ivory, on ceramic stand
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Lower denture of hippopotamus ivory, on ceramic stand
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Lower denture of hippopotamus ivory, on ceramic stand
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Lower denture of hippopotamus ivory, on ceramic stand
These carefully carved dentures show the best dentists produced fine work. This is denser than both elephant and walrus ivory. It is more hardwearing and appropriate for dental use. Ivory was difficult to clean. It deteriorated over time and smelt unpleasant. Only wealthy patients such as royalty and the upper classes could afford ivory dentures.
The porcelain display holders are carved with the motif of the Prince of Wales’ feathers. They are sometimes called Ruspini holders, after Bartholomew Ruspini (1728-1813). He trained as a dentist in France and moved to London in 1766. His patients included the Prince of Wales, later King George IV. The lower dentures (A71862) are pictured here with their upper denture partners (A71861).
Details
- Category:
- Dentistry
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A71862
- Materials:
- ivory, china, ceramic (unspecified) and complete
- Measurements:
-
depth: 81mm
height: 54mm
width: 71mm
overall (teeth): 18 mm x 63 mm x 46 mm, 0.017 kg
overall (stand): 4 mm x 83 mm x 73 mm, 0.092 kg
- type:
- denture
- credit:
- Brown, H.C.
