TOOTH PICK

Report for HM Coroner on post-medieval silver toothpick/earscoop from near Longford, Derbyshire 2004 T238

Silver toothpick/earscoop with sickle-shaped pick, bent out of shape, with flattened sides. The pick emerges from the body of a stylised dragon, shaped so as to serve as a handle. Midway along the upper side of the dragon's body is a suspension loop. The dragon's body is marked with scales. From the dragon's open mouth, as if it were the dragon's tongue, emerges a strip of silver with an earscoop at the end. Maker's mark R at the point where sickle joins the dragon, on one side. Length: 4.6cm.

The collections of the Museum of London record 6 forms of medieval types. The sickle shape suggests a 16th Century date; an example in gold, from the tomb of the Count Palatine Philip Ludwig (died 1614) is now in the VAM, for which see Geoff Egan and Frances Pritchard, Dress Accessories, Medieval Finds from excavations in London 3, London 1991, pp.378-380. The toothpick pendant became a fashionable accessory in Northern Europe by 1562, when engraved designs were published by the goldsmith, Erasmus Hornick: a late 16th Century enamelled gold toothpick with a baroque pearl "body" is in The Waddesdon Bequest in The British Museum: Hugh Tait, Catalogue of the Waddesdon Beqyest in the British Museum, The Jewels, London 1986, pp.167-170, no.31. This would appear to be cheaper version in silver of a toilet article which could be worn as piece of jewellery.

This appears to be the first post-medieval object of this kind to be reported through the Treasure Act.

16th-17th Century.

Dr Dora Thornton, Curator of Renaissance Collections

The British Museum