Accession Number

1986.008.0024

Alternate object names

Sheath;Case

Creation Date

circa 1600

Description

A slightly curved, wooden sheath, with decorative bronze ends, has generally been regarded as the remains of a razor. In line with such thinking, it would have contained a sharp, steel blade that would have been useful not only for shaving but also as a medical scalpel. The ebony sheath is decorated with fluted grooves running its length. Bronze caps at each end are intricately engraved with repetitive, geometric, Moresque designs. Judging from the evidence presented by the sheath, the piece would not have been particularly strong: The pin holding the blade was small, and, coupled with the relatively thin wood, it would not have withstood much twisting or torque.

Exhibition Label

Case Caption (2023):

The Surgeon

Both Cecilio de Ribera aboard the Nuestra Señora de Atocha and Juan de Mercado on the Santa Margarita were ship’s surgeons. At this time, a surgeon was often a barber who had acquired a few additional skills rather than a man with medical training.

He would have few medicines to offer. His resources would include basilicum powder (made from basil) to speed the healing of a wound and poultice ingredients for sores or strains. The lack of fresh food in sailors’ rations would lead to digestive problems in the short term or even scurvy during a long voyage. Many minor illnesses were treated with enemas, whether truly appropriate or not.

In addition, the surgeon would know how to clean a sword cut, dig out a musket ball, or even pull a tooth. He might have to go as far as amputating the limb of an injured sailor. Dipping a man’s freshly severed stump in hot pitch to seal the wound would be as close to hygiene as the operation might come.
Object Caption (2023):

Razor Sheaths
Bronze, ebony (Spain, c.1610)
Gifts of Jamestown Inc.
1986.008.2310a-b, 1986.008.0024

Sheaths like this would have contained a steel blade that would have been useful not only for shaving but also as a medical scalpel. Although very sharp, the blade would not have been particularly strong and would not have withstood much twisting or torque. The ebony sheaths have bronze caps at each end and are intricately engraved with repetitive, geometric, Moresque designs.