The Armour Archive

I am looking for info, and pictures on what people used to shave in the 14th Century. I seem to remember that there is an existing early period razor somewhere but I haven't been able to find anything from the 14th Century. It doesn't matter to me about the location.

Thanks for any help.

Bjorn,

I could post a pic of a *15th c.* example if that would help.

Mac

On the bottom of the page on this link is what is supposed to be a reproduction of a 14th Century straight razor:
http://www.todsstuff.co.uk/galpics/
It came up on a Google search, I don't have any verification for this.

Here's one dated c. 1495-1505: http://tarvos.imareal.oeaw.ac.at/server ... 004794.JPG
(Vienna, Museum für angewandte Kunst F 736)

Some razors found in Southampton, dating to the Middle Saxon and Medieval periods:
http://sccwww1.southampton.gov.uk/archa ... or%20Blade

You'll find a bunch more at the Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Database, though none with pictures (as far as I can tell).

Into the 16th century, there's also the razor-handles and shaving bowl from the Mary Rose:
http://www.maryrose.org/explore/barber/shave1.htm
http://www.maryrose.org/lcity/barber/shop2.htm

I want to say there's some in the Museum of London books, but I can't remember now whether it was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1843833530?ie=UTF8&tag=suggestion-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1843833530">Knives & Scabbards</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0112904904?ie=UTF8&tag=suggestion-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0112904904">The Medieval Household</a> (or even <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/190199239X?ie=UTF8&tag=suggestion-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=190199239X">Material Culture in London in an Age of Transition</a>).

Bjorn,

Here is a picture of a man being shaved by a barber. The picture is from a (facsimile) mid fifteenth century playing card.

Mac

Thanks a lot everyone for all the help. I have been having a really hard time finding out any info on this at all.

Opps missed this thread. Here is a 14th century razor on display in the Museum of London:





There are a few shown in Knives and Scabbards and in another MoL book on late 15th - 17th century finds.

James, that is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot.

That's what I love about the arcive you can ask any obscure, wierd ass question and get a solid answer!

looks like a pretty simple straight razor...

Speaking of strange questions in the middle of the evening....

What about beards?

I am loathe to shave off my wonderfully long dwarf beard (ZZ top loves me) but I started thinking about beards in the pictorial record.

We see some in the 14th century....more like goatees....

We see mustaches in the 15th century in eastern europe.

But what about real man-beards. I mean, the kind you can always find something to eat by looking inside it Or give small animals a place to sleep in.

Well here is a slightly BIGGER goatee from the 14th century....
http://mrffriends.tripod.com/garter/edward.jpg

King Edward the Third

O/T but every time I see the name 'Edward the Third' I have to smile since it reminds me of that one time I heard a fellow dutchman, who can not pronounce the english 'th' sound very well, speak of him as 'Edward the Turd'.

Bleddyn De Caldicot wrote:Well here is a slightly BIGGER goatee from the 14th century....
http://mrffriends.tripod.com/garter/edward.jpg

King Edward the Third

The Medieval Paul Teutel Sr.

Bleddyn De Caldicot wrote:Well here is a slightly BIGGER goatee from the 14th century....
http://mrffriends.tripod.com/garter/edward.jpg

King Edward the Third

Oy! That bastard has stolen my beard style!

At least mine is longer.

Johan Schubert Moen

James B. wrote:Opps missed this thread. Here is a 14th century razor on display in the Museum of London:


There are a few shown in Knives and Scabbards and in another MoL book on late 15th - 17th century finds.

is reference #4 2 pairs of spectacles?

Yes they are eyeglasses; I have the card info and a larger image too

Andrew Young wrote:Speaking of strange questions in the middle of the evening....

What about beards?

I am loathe to shave off my wonderfully long dwarf beard (ZZ top loves me) but I started thinking about beards in the pictorial record.

We see some in the 14th century....more like goatees....

We see mustaches in the 15th century in eastern europe.

But what about real man-beards. I mean, the kind you can always find something to eat by looking inside it Or give small animals a place to sleep in.

I'm no historian, but my thoughts on the matter are such...

By the 15th century, people begane to come up with some 'interesting' ideas for fashion and it was begomming more and more important. As for a beard, any man can grow a big bushy beard, so those of upper class had to stand out in some whay, which is why they would have shaved, to stnad out and be different, then the peasant who could not afford a shave. Little things liek that would be a way to show status, after all it's right there on your face.

So a big 'dwarven beard' would have only been reserved for the poor, or those who lived in the far north and needed the extra warmth on thier faces.

There may be some truth in what you're saying, Bantha, but have you seen the raging 'stash on the Black Prince's effigy? Such a work of hair takes some serious dedication, and probably some kind of fancy conditioning products.

Some of what RB is saying is true but we do find beards still quite popular in many other areas of europe....mustaches too.

Good points though.

Gaston de Clermont wrote:There may be some truth in what you're saying, Bantha, but have you seen the raging 'stash on the Black Prince's effigy? Such a work of hair takes some serious dedication, and probably some kind of fancy conditioning products.

Gaston,

Here is my recipe for a beard and mustache wax.

Melt one part bee's wax
Add one part tallow
Meddle them well
Let cool

It is convenient to use, and is made of readily available ingredients. I use yellow bee's wax rather than the bleached (white) sort. The resulting product smells vaguely of honey. I suppose you could add any of the usual medieval fragrances if you liked.

Use it by rubbing the resulting cake over your beard or mustache a few times, and then comb to taste. It will wash out with shampoo.

I developed this recipe to use as a spinning lubricant for making pewter vessels on the lathe. It just happens to make a perfectly good grooming product as well. The tallow came from Eastwood. They sell it as a flux for auto body lead work.

Mac

As a fellow who is not hirstute in the least, I am jealous of the bitchin' staches and beards that some of my fellows can pull off. In particular my good friends Raimond and Uilliam--they have it down. But then again, shaving is a cast iron bitch.

But even so, I do have to shave my head to do my military cut, so a razor seems needful. I just have to get around to it.

John
Jehan de Pelham, ecuyer and servant of Sir Vitus
www.mron.org

Making a couple of historical razors is on my '09 to-do list...