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Description

This razor handle is handcrafted by Robert Quinn from separate pieces of dyed Box Elder and natural American Holly and arranged to depict the traditional Barber’s Pole. These individual pieces were laser-cut to exacting tolerances then assembled by hand in order to create this piece.The modern Barber’s Pole originated in the day when blood-letting was one of the principal duties of the barbering trade. The two spiral ribbons painted around the pole represented two long bandages, one twisted around the arm before bleeding (to make the vein stand out), and the other used to bind it afterwards. The first European poles contained only red and white stripes and some historians credit the blue stripe on the American poles as having been transported from blue and white bands on English poles of the 1700’s. Other authorities say that American barbers added the blue stripe to their red and white poles as a patriotic gesture.

This razor handle is 3.25 inches long and weighs 1.6 ounces.