Social History — 1802
Travelling kit
Travelling kits such as this one containing a toothbrush, tongue scraper and tooth powder box, were often included in toiletry cases for use on journeys. In the second half of the eighteenth century middle and upper class Londoners began to embrace new ideas promoting good oral hygiene. Many of these ideas originated in the work of early French dentists, such as Pierre Fauchard and Robert Bunon. Wealthier people started to pick and clean their teeth on a regular basis. Toothbrushes and tongue scrapers entered everyday use. Poorer Londoners could not afford these fine silver dental instruments however. This combined with a poor diet resulted in high rates of tooth decay and loss among the poor.
- Category:
- Social History
- Object ID:
- 88.403
- Object name:
- travelling kit
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Lockwood, Richard, Douglas, John
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1802
- Material:
silver, ivory, hair, leather
- Measurements/duration:
- L 123 mm, W 10 mm, H 19 mm (toothbrush), L 96 mm, W 36 mm (tongue scraper, open end), L 98 mm, W 32 mm, H 52 mm (case)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.