There are a number of razor sets that were delivered in unusual and classy cases -- covered in a material that I have not seen identified anywhere. The I received this beauty -- an early 1950s Rotbart set delivered in this case: Not that different in case covering material from a couple other recently acquired sets, a President and a British Coronation set. Check the similarities in these cases. Yet I've never seen any explanation about the covering of these cases. Then my wife said: "Oh, that looks just like shagreen!" Dawn breaks slowly over marble head... What is shagreen? A traditional material used on knife and even sword grips, sometimes even used as sandpaper. Comes from specific animals, but more often from shark or ray fish -- and doesn't that strike a chord? Fish skin... Sturdy, heavy duty, classy. And look at what's inside too. 2 Bakelite canisters -- for a brush and soap stick, a razor, some blades, and tucked up under the head liner, a mirror. Sort of a version of the Gillette Executive set. And the Coronation set ain't too shabby either... The shagreen is starting to wear, but not that rhodium plated razor. And the President -- also a shagreen covered case and great razor... The President competed with the Coronation set -- the commemorative for the Queen's 1953 Coronation. All shagreen cases. Very cool.
Great looking cases and razors. This article helps to explain: http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-Shagreen?&id=734697 "What is Shagreen mainly used for? In the 20s it was used used for pocket books as well as cigarette cases and clutch bags. Shagreen is also used as a surface finish for furniture. You can imagine how Shagreen bags, clutch bags, compacts were popular in the 20s. This was the time of Art Deco as well as a certain type of Exoticism in the world of design which were ready to use materials such as Shagreen."Faux shagreen was used for luggage and in some clocks and radio cases (over wood) of the time to make them look like they used the expensive material.
Rotbart did put out some very nice sets. After Gillette bought the company, is when you start seeing similarities in cases and razors. That No. 66 Coronation set is the last one I need to complete my Coronation sets collection as I've got the other two recently - the No. 45 and No. 58. My eyes are open and looking...
