General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

barber's basin; shaving dish

Patents

N/A

General Description

ceramic (possibly porcelain )

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

N/A

Width

N/A

Height

6.7 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

26.0 cm

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Domestic Technology

Category

Toilet article

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Probably used c. early 18th c. +

Canada

Example of barber's shaving bowl or basin, popular in 18th & 19th centuries.

Function

Used to collect the blood from shaving cuts.

Technical

In the 19th century most men visited the barber or shaved periodically at home. Better off customers would have their own personal sets of razors, one for each day of the week. Advances in razor technology in the 20th century, including the introduction of the electric razor, changed shaving habits.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"2" marked in blue on underside of bowl. UHN catalogue no. "X954.9" printed by hand in black ink, also on underside of bowl. "AM/ 3838" printed by hand in black ink on off-white decal applied to underside of bowl. "298" printed by hand in pencil on red and buff-coloured decal, also on underside of bowl.

Missing

Several large chips missing from bowl's edge.

Finish

White ceramic bowl [ porcelain?] bears [hand painted ?] dark blue painted decoration on top/inside surfaces; exterior/underside of bowl is white.

Decoration

Stylized vase containing flowers, and framed by flowers decorates recessed face of bowl; stylized floral motifs decorate wide, gently sloping rim of bowl. Dark blue border defines upper edge of bowl recess, and bowl rim.