PROBABLY MID 18TH CENTURY

Details

AN ENGLISH BOXWOOD FLEAM CASE
PROBABLY MID 18TH CENTURY
Of bombé outline, carved in relief with panels of foliate ornament and geometric chip carved decoration, the inner side of the sliding cover gouged with the numerals 1547
3¾in. (9.5cm.) long

Provenance

Rosemary Luck Collection, Christie's South Kensington, 1st March 1995, lot 784.
Thence, Levi Collection number 707.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. This lot is subject to storage and collection charges. **For Furniture and Decorative Objects, storage charges commence 7 days from sale. Please contact department for further details.**

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Lot Essay

This would appear to be a case for a veterinary fleam for bleeding animals. The point of projection of the fleam was placed against the vein and smartly taped with a mallet, the bloody flow being controlled by a tourniquet. The bleeding of animals as well as humans was common practice through the medieval period right through to the early 19th century.

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