Traditionally made NikNaks for Genuine Authenticity

Rosemary Chalk has spent many hours, days and years researching, and reconstructing mediaeval  artifacts. The items she makes range from Toothpicks to Tweezers, Broaches to Combs, Needle Cases to Treasure Boxes...

Wooden Combs.
The handmade wooden comb is a copy of a mediaeval one found within the London area. Although it is possible for most woods to be used, woods such as Beech and other straight grained woods allow the teeth to be cut and still give a reasonably strong body.
As can be seen the comb is two sided. The teeth along one side begin thick and widely spaced whilst the other has finer teeth perhaps for the removal of nits and lice.
Often the ends of the combs were decorated and drilled with a hole to enable it to be hung from the belt.

Composite Comb.
The handmade composite comb is based on the mediaeval finds within London. In this case the hard wood has been used in place of antler for the teeth. The copper rivets which hold the comb together are made by hand and so vary slightly in size.It is assumed that this type of comb would have been made for those of the higher social levels and so could afford to pay for the greater standard of workmanship that is required.
The price of an Authentic Wooden Comb is £14.00 +pp
The price of an Authentic Composite Comb is £24.00 +pp
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Toothpicks and Earscoops.
This handmade article is a copy of a Mediaeval one found within the London area. Unlike the sheet metal 'picks' this one has been hand forged to get the shape required. Often the shank of the piece was twisted which would give additional strength to the item but at the same time be decorative and provide a better grip, especially for those with large hands. At one end the 'pick' has been formed which was used to clean between the teeth, whilst at the other a 'scoop' has been made for cleaning out the wax from the ears.

The price of an Authentic Copper or Brass Toothpick/Earscoop is £7.00 +pp
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Tweezers.
These tweezers are copies of a mediaeval pair found within London. It is because each is hand made that slight variations occur during the making, thus each will be slightly different.
Originally each would have been cut from sheet metal, either copper or brass. These then would have been soldered together. The same process has been followed here.
At one end, the bent legs form the tweezers, whilst at the other, a small eye or bend of metal provides a useful tool for the removal of wax from within the ear.

The price of an Authentic Copper or Brass Tweezers is £9.00 +pp
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Needlecase.
This hand made needlecase is a copy of a mediaeval one found in the London area. In this instance it has been made from a piece of beech which has been drilled out and then rounded. The stopper which was originally part of the same block has been cut so that it forms a tight fit in the open end so preventing the needles from falling out. It appears from the two sets of holes in the body that it was intended to be hung from the belt by some form of fine material. Please take care as the wood sometimes swells slightly and may become tight in the end.

The price of an Authentic Wooden NeedleCase is £11.00 +pp
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Wooded Tweezers.
These pairs of hand made tweezers are a copy of a pair found within London. Originally they would probably have been made from wood similar to Boxwood which has a hard close grain.
As can be seen the end of this pair has been flattened out to produce a simple tool for removing the wax from within the ear.
Below this the wood was often worked into some form of decoration formed by circles and bands. It has to be assumed that those so treated would have been 'up market' yet probably still classed as them buying metal ones as inferior tweezers.

The price of an Authentic Wooden Tweezers is £12.00 +pp
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Broach.
This twisted wire broach has been hand made and is similar to those found in mediaeval London. The one here is either from copper or from brass, two metals which were commonly used during this period.
Once formed the ends were then soldered together to add strength and to prevent the pin from working loose.
To use the broach the fabric is pulled through the ring far enough to allow the pin, which in this case is of copper and has been hand forged, to be inserted. This done the material is allowed to pull back through the ring, the weight of which keeping the pin locked.
The price of an Authentic Copper or Brass Broach is £9.00 +pp
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Needlecase.
This handmade needlecase is a copy of a mediaeval one found within the London area. Originally the shape would have been cut from sheet brass and copper. After forming the joints and components would have been soldered together and this process has been followed here.
It appears that this one would have been suspended from the belt. This was achieved by passing some form of fine material through the lugs on either side and on which the stopper could be raised and not be lost. Perhaps a bead was used to secure the top when in place.

The price of an Authentic Copper & Brass NeedleCases £12-£21.00 +pp
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Cosmetic Sets.
This handmade set of tweezers, toothpick and earscoop, is a copy of a mediaeval find found within the London area. Originally the individual parts were cut from sheet brass or copper, after which the tweezer legs were soldered together and then riveted to the 'pick' and 'scoop' thus allowing them to swing. It is assumed that such an item would have been kept in a pouch slung from a belt, or rolled up in a piece of material.

The price of an Authentic Cosmetic Set is £11.00 +pp
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FULL PRICE LIST
ITEMS FOR SALE

Pairs of Scoured Horns £40.00 a pair
Composite Combs £24.00 each
Wooden Combs £ 14.00 each
Brass Broaches £ 9.00 each
Copper Broaches £ 9.00 each
Brass Buckle £ 12.00 each
Hand Forged copper buckles £ 12.00 each
Brass Locking Buckles £ 14.00 each
Strap End Copper £ 9.00 each
Strap End Brass £ 12.00 each
Strap End Brass £ 9.00 each
Strap End Brass £ 13.00 each

NEEDLECASES

Very Decorative Copper £17.00 each
Large Copper £21.00 each
Large Brass £21.00 each
Decorative copper £17.00 each
Brass Decorative £17.00 each
Rectangular Copper £17.00 each
Rectangular Brass £17.00 each
Wooden £ 12.00 each
Small Copper £15.00 each

COSMETIC SETS

Copper £11.00 each
Brass £11.00 each


TOOTHPICKS & EARSCOOPS

Brass £ 3.00 each
Copper £ 3.00 each


TWEEZERS

Wooden £ 12.00 each
Copper £ 9.00 each
Copper & Brass £ 9.00 each
Brass £ 9.00 each