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A shearman removing the nap from rough woven cloth, watched by another man from a window. Woodcut by J. Amman.

A man reads a book while his wife cuts his toenails. Coloured etching after G. Piattoli, c. 1800.

A pedlar with his tray of wares holds up a pair of scissors. Line engraving after M. Laroon, 1711.

A knife-grinder sharpening a blade on a grinding wheel as a customer arrives with a plane to be sharpened. Woodcut by J. Amman.

The muscles of the arm and palm of the hand and geometrical diagrams of the tendons and fibres of different muscles. Engraving after G. de Lairesse, 1739.

Moorish tailor and wife offering him betel leaves. Gouache drawing.

A woman and a girl having an ear and a nose pierced, a boy receiving stitches on his arm and a man having his hair cut, another a shave; a warning about the dangers of using unsterilized equipment and contracting the HIV virus by Spitnacs, Societal Projects Information Training Networking and Consultancy Services. Colour lithograph, ca 1997.

Two maids confer on whether to 'refresh' a sick man even further by putting cold water into his enema. Lithograph by Cham, c. 1840.

John Cargill, instrument maker, at ye Saw & Crown in Lombard Street, London : makes & sells all sorts of surgeons instruments, razors, scizers, penknives, caseknives, carving knives, cuttoes, &c. : at reasonable rates.

Robert Sparling, razor-maker, at the Case of Knives in St. James's Market : makes and sells all sorts of cutlers ware, as knives & forks both for table and dezert with hafts in ivory, wood or horn; silver and china, or any other curious handles mounted in the best blades &c. : makes & sells razors, scissars, fleams, sheers, pen knives... likewise surgeons instruments in ye neatest manner.

Bought of H. Webster, surgeons' instrument maker and cutler : manufacturer of table knives, razors, scissors, pen knives &c. : 261, High Holborn : NB. all sorts of cutlery ground & repaired daily.

Specification of Frederick Weiss : forceps, scissors, and other cutting instruments.

A pair of scissors; a person lying in water. Watercolour by N. Goullet, 1956.

Splendid show rooms at the King's Cutlery manufactory and Sheffield Plate Warehouse / Joseph Rodgers and Sons.

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Scissors and shears

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Bought of H. Webster, surgeons' instrument maker and cutler : manufacturer of table knives, razors, scissors, pen knives &c. : 261, High Holborn : NB. all sorts of cutlery ground & repaired daily.

Specification of Frederick Weiss : forceps, scissors, and other cutting instruments.

A pair of scissors; a person lying in water. Watercolour by N. Goullet, 1956.

Splendid show rooms at the King's Cutlery manufactory and Sheffield Plate Warehouse / Joseph Rodgers and Sons.

John Cargill, instrument maker, at ye Saw & Crown in Lombard Street, London : makes & sells all sorts of surgeons instruments, razors, scizers, penknives, caseknives, carving knives, cuttoes, &c. : at reasonable rates.