Patriotic Comb With George Washington

Patriotic Folding Moustache Comb Depicting George Washington and Naval Heroes of the War of 1812.

United States, early 19th century.

Measurements: 8.4 × 2.3 cm (closed).

Materials: Pressed baleen, horn, iron rivets.

This rare American folding moustache comb is formed of pressed baleen with a translucent horn comb mounted on iron rivets. The exterior of the handle is decorated in shallow relief using a pressing technique typical for personal objects produced on a large scale in the early 19th century, particularly in organic materials such as horn, baleen, wood, and tortoiseshell.

To one side, the handle bears a neoclassical profile bust of George Washington, set beneath a curved banner inscribed with his name. Below, a small pastoral landscape is depicted in low relief: a rising sun emerges over the horizon behind a solitary tree, above the word LIBERTY. The reverse features a patriotic military trophy in the form of an obelisk set upon a plinth, flanked by crossed flags and banners. The surface of the obelisk is decorated with stars—likely numbering eighteen, though now partially worn with age and handling. The rectangular plinth at the base is inscribed with the names PERRY, PORTER, HULL, and JONES, honouring the celebrated naval commanders of the War of 1812. Below, the word INDEPENDENCE arches prominently, reinforcing the commemorative character of the piece.

Though modest in scale, this object is richly symbolic. It connects the foundational legacy of George Washington and the ideals of liberty with the renewed defence of American sovereignty in the early Republic. Designed as a personal grooming tool—likely for moustache maintenance—it also functioned as a subtle expression of patriotic identity, combining utility with commemoration. The use of pressed baleen and horn reflects both the material culture of whaling-era America and the production methods of small workshops catering to civilian clientele in the decades following the war.

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Comparisons
• Parasol with pressed horn handle, Dan Morphy Auctions, Collectible Firearms & Militaria, 12–14 July 2022, lot 1051. Features a bust of Washington and American eagle beneath thirteen stars. See catalogue, p. 25.
https://issuu.com/morphyauctions/docs/flipdoc_july_12-14_firearms?fr=sNmJhYjQ2NjA1NQ
• Umbrella with pressed horn handle, Brunk Auctions, American & Southern, 13 March 2025, lot 1147. With bust of Washington, thirteen stars, floral decoration, and American eagle.
https://live.brunkauctions.com/online-auctions/brunk/commemorative-federal-period-george-washington-umbrella-6146311

These closely related objects, though different in function, share the same materials, techniques, and patriotic iconography. Together they reflect a small but distinctive group of commemorative wares produced in the decades following American independence.