A handheld mirror such as this one would be used in a 19th century family for personal grooming, or perhaps in a barber or hair dresser shop. The "ebony" wood may have been 'ebonised' wood, a process that made plain wood appear to be ebony. The handheld mirror is an example of a 19th and early 20th century personal grooming accessory. A mirror like this would often be sold with a matching hairbrush and comb. Mirror, personal handheld, oval, painted black, with a bevelled edge around the mirror glass and a wooden handle. Wood is ebony. Inscription on handle"EBONY"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, mirror, reflective glass, mirror glass, handheld mirror, personal grooming, personal grooming accessory, barber’s equipment, hairdresser, hairdressing, 19th century personal effects, personal effects, toiletries

Clothes brushes have been used since the 1700s for keeping clothing clean and presentable. This clothes brush is one of quality, being made from natural bristle and ebony.This clothes brush is representative of the equipment used to groom and clean garments in the 19th century and even into today.Clothes brush, ladies' item, rectangular with rounded corners. Blonde hair bristles and black ebony handle."REAL EBONY"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, clothes brush, personal effects, grooming, toiletries, personal item, clothes care

Clothes brushes were a common household item, used particularly for removing lint and fluff woven fabrics. This clothes brush is an example of personal items used for grooming and care of clothes in the earlier part of the 20th century. Items of similar design are still used in modern times.Clothes brush, handle and back are one piece, made of dark brown-coloured ebony. the brush has with yellow bristles. Inscription on handle. Rounded tip of brush has indented white circles. Inscription on brush handle.Embossed "REAL EBONY"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, brush, clothes brush, grooming, personal item, ebony, real ebony

Clothes brush with "Real Ebony" on handle.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, clothes brush, ebony

James Hobson Aveling (1828-98) invented this type of forceps. They are made from steel with an ebony handle. Obstetrical forceps gripped a baby’s head to help delivery during difficult childbirths. Aveling thought a curved handle rather than a straight one would improve grip and make the forceps easier to insert into the body. However, his idea did not work well and the forceps were not widely used. Aveling also promoted the use of chloroform during childbirth.Forceps, Aveling's, with ebony handles. Stamped "Meyer & Meltzer London & Melbourne"on inner arm.forceps, obstetric

Glove stretcher ebony with spring loaded jaws. Inscribed "Real Ebony".flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, glove stretcher, real ebony

In 1792 John Manners had set up a workshop making woodworking planes at 14 Saracens Lane Glasgow. He also had employed an apprentice Alexander Mathieson (1773-1851). But in the following year at Saracen's Lane, the 1841 census describes Alexander Mathieson as a master plane-maker now at 38 Saracen Lane with his son Thomas Adam working with him as a journeyman plane-maker. Presumably, Alexander must have taken over the premises and business of John Manners.  Now that the business had Thomas Adam Mathieson working with his father it gradually grew and became more diversified, and it is recorded at the time by the Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory that by 1847/8 Alexander Mathieson was a "plane, brace, bit, auger & edge-tool maker". In 1849 the firm of James & William Stewart at 65 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh was taken over and Thomas was put in charge of the business, trading under the name Thomas A. Mathieson & Co. as plane and edge-tool makers. Thomas's company went on to acquire the Edinburgh edge-tool makers “Charles & Hugh McPherson” and took over their premises in Gilmore Street. In the Edinburgh directory of 1856/7, the business is recorded as being Alexander Mathieson & Son, plane and edge-tool makers at 48 Nicolson Street and Paul's Work, Gilmore Street Edinburgh. The 1851 census Alexander is recorded as working as a tool and plane-maker employing eight men. Later that year Alexander died and his son Thomas took over the business. Under the heading of an edge-tool maker in the 1852/3 Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory the firm is now listed as Alexander Mathieson & Son, with further entries as "turning-lathe and vice manufacturers". By the early 1850s, the business had moved to 24 Saracen Lane. The directory for 1857/8 records that the firm had moved again only a few years later to East Campbell Street, off the Gallowgate area, and that through further diversification was also manufacturing coopers' and tinmen's tools. The ten-yearly censuses report the firm's growth in 1861 stating that Thomas was a tool manufacturer employing 95 men and 30 boys; in 1871 he had 200 men working for him and in 1881 300 men. By 1899 the firm had been incorporated as Alexander Mathieson & Sons Ltd, even though only Alexander's son Thomas appears ever to have joined the firm so the company was still in his fathers' name. In September 1868 Thomas Mathieson put a notice in the newspapers of the Sheffield & Rotherham Independent and the Sheffield Daily Telegraph stating that his firm had used the trade-mark of a crescent and star "for some time" and that "using or imitating the Mark would be proceeded against for infringement". The firm had acquired its interest in the crescent-and-star mark from the heirs of Charles Pickslay, the Sheffield cutler who had registered it with the Cutlers' Company in 1833 and had died in 1852. The year 1868 seems also to be the one in which the name Saracen Tool Works was first adopted; not only does it figure at the foot of the notice in the Sheffield press, it also makes its first appearance in the firm's entry in the Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory in the 1868/9 edition. As Thomas Mathieson's business grew, so too did his involvement in local public life and philanthropy. One of the representatives of the third ward on the town council of Glasgow, he became a river bailie in 1868, a magistrate in 1870 and a preceptor of Hutcheson's Hospital in 1878. He had a passion for books and was an "ardent Ruskinian". He served on the committee handling the bequest for the setting up of the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. When he died at Coulter Maynes near Biggar in 1899, he left an estate worth £142,764.  Company's later years: Both Thomas's sons, James Harper and Thomas Ogilvie were involved in the continuing life of the firm. James followed in his father's footsteps in becoming a local public figure. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the County of the City of Glasgow and was made a deacon of the Incorporation of the Hammermen of Glasgow in 1919. His brother Thomas Ogilvie was recorded as tool manufacturer and employer in the 1911 census. Thomas Ogilvie's son Thomas Alastair Sutherland Ogilvie Mathieson was born in 1908 took a rather different approach to engineering, however, by becoming a racing driver. In 1947 he wed the French film actress Mila Parély. The firm had won many awards at world fairs for their goods. At the Great Exhibition, London, 1851. Prize medal for joiners' tools in the class of Cutlery & Edge Tools, Great London Exposition, 1862. Prize medal honoris causa. International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1880. Gold medal International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art, Edinburgh, 1886. Prize medalThe firm of Alexander Mathieson & Sons was one of the leading makers of hand tools in Scotland. Its success went hand in hand with the growth of the shipbuilding industries on the Firth of Clyde in the nineteenth century and the emergence of Glasgow as the "second city of the Empire". It also reflected the firm's skill in responding to an unprecedented demand for quality tools by shipyards, cooperage's and other industries, both locally and far and wide.Spirit level, brass in ebony wooden casing.Has "18C Warranted" stamped on barrel.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, spirit level, level, mathieson of glasgow, builders level, spirit level, alexander mathieson & sons, tool maker, wood working plane, john manners, thomas adam mathieson, james & william stewart, james harper, thomas ogilvie, machine manufacturer

Possibly collected by Dr Frank ForsterForceps, Davis's, with ebony handles. No manufacturer's stamp.forceps, obstetric

Item belonged to Mrs. Ellen & Mr. Charles CornellPorcupine quill jewellery box. Ebony/Ivory.Maiara - Elephant picture inside the lid.jewellery boxes, boxes

Possibly collected by Dr Frank ForsterForceps, Zeigler, with ebony insert in handles. Manufacturer "Coxeter".forceps, obstetric

African Rhinoceros sculpture in possibly carved in ebony woodrhinoseros, carving, animal

Parallel rule made from ebony wood with 2 hinges. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, navigation, parallel rule, mapping

Possibly collected by Dr Frank ForsterForceps, Simpson's long, with ebony handles.Manufacturer's stamp "MCLELLAND LONDON".forceps, obstetric

Box of dominoes. Hand made of bone and ebony (24 dominoes).toys, general

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster. Examined and identified by Bryan Hibbard.Forceps, Naegele's, with ebony handles with cross-hatch pattterning, no manufacturer's stamp.forceps, obstetric

From Athol Ferguson - great grandson of Henry William Paul (1838-1911).Cylindrical ebony ruler - 12 inch, Concentric grooves on each end.rulers, measures

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster. Examined and identified by Bryan Hibbard.Forceps, A.R.Simpson's, with ebony handles , feint stamp symbol of Lion on inner arm.forceps, obstetric

Victorian black mourning fan with ebony struts and handmade lace inserts with sequins.fans, folding fans, mourning fans

Most likely donated by the late Dr Frank ForsterPerforator, Oldham's, metal with ebony handle inserts, Stamped "W & H Hutchinson, Sheffield"perforator, destructive instrument, obstetric delivery

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster. Examined and identified by Bryan Hibbard.Forceps, A.R.Simpson's, with ebony handles. Stamped "Gardner Edinburgh" on one inner blade handle.forceps, obstetric

Long bladed knife with end broken. Ebony handle. Possibly a carving knife. Length 320mmflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Two Hat Pins, one 6¼", one 5". Pins have ebony balls on top. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, hat pin

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster. Examined and identified by Bryan Hibbard.Forceps,Denman's'type, short with ebony handle insert, with cross hatched pattern. Stamped "Mathew London" .forceps, obstetric

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster.Forceps, Murphy's with black ebony insert handles. Manufacturer's stamp "LAWREY' inner blade near handle.forceps, obstetric

Silver cake tray with ebony handle. Has silver hallmark on back.handle has been repaired with silver-solder.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village