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Lot 332B
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19th C. Victorian Surgical Trocar & Cannula - Ivory Handle
19th C. Victorian Surgical Trocar & Cannula - Ivory Handle
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Europe or United States, Victorian era, ca. 1850–1890 CE. A surgeon's trocar and cannula from the high age of heroic medicine, surviving complete in its two-part form. The steel trocar carries a finely ground three-faceted bayonet point, set into a turned elephant ivory handle of pleasing barrel form, its lathe-turned profile swelling gently to fill the palm. Schreger lines visible in the cream-toned ivory confirm the material. The accompanying hollow steel cannula flares into a graceful trumpet mouth, with a small fenestration near the tip to keep the channel open should the end port clog. In use the trocar rode inside the cannula, the pair driven through the body wall in a single decisive thrust, then the trocar withdrawn to leave the slender tube draining the offending fluid clear of the operator's hand. Size: 0.75" D x 5" H (1.9 cm D x 12.7 cm H).

Its chief employment was paracentesis, the tapping of ascites (the "dropsy" of period case notes), along with the drainage of hydroceles and other accumulations the Victorian body was prone to harbor. The human scale of the instrument distinguishes it from the heavier bloat trocars of the farmyard. Ivory and ebony fittings of this kind belong to the pre-aseptic operating room, where instruments were wiped rather than sterilized and a handsome handle was a point of professional pride. The Listerian revolution of the 1880s and 1890s swept such materials from the surgeon's case in favor of all-metal construction, making this piece a small witness to the last generation of medicine practiced before germ theory rewrote the rules. It likely once belonged to a cased general operating or pocket instrument set, perhaps in the tradition of makers such as Weiss or Tiemann, though it bears no visible maker's mark to confirm the attribution.

This item is made of or contains elephant ivory and is classified under the ESA (Endangered Species Act) as an exempt piece. Due to federal and state regulations regarding the sale of ivory, this item cannot be shipped internationally or to individuals residing in the following U.S. states: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. Additionally, buyers are responsible for ensuring that their purchase complies with all local laws and regulations concerning ivory. We guarantee that this piece meets the criteria for an ESA antique exemption under U.S. Federal law, however, we advise buyers to consult with their local authorities to confirm their ability to legally acquire, possess, trade, or sell this item in their state of residence.

Provenance: private Denver, Colorado, USA collection, acquired in the 1960's

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Item # 203304

  • Condition: Excellent. Some natural fissures to ivory, but, otherwise, intact and in excellent overall condition.

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by Artemis Fine Arts
June 25, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000