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Photo 1/6 du lotPhoto 2/6 du lotPhoto 3/6 du lotPhoto 4/6 du lotPhoto 5/6 du lotan old wooden machine that is sitting on a table
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811 - “Warren’s Rotary” sharpener. English School. 18th century.
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Estimate €550 - €1,200
Sale commission
Description
“Warren’s Rotary” sharpener. English School. 18th century. Cast iron and turned wood. Dimensions: 44 x 54 x 25 cm. This ingenious device is a late 18th-century English rotary knife sharpener, known as Warren’s Rotary Knife Cleaner, manufactured by The Reliance WB. The device combines mechanical functionality and structural solidity within a circular wooden box, supported by a cast-iron base featuring a wavy design that enhances its stability. The top features several slots with internal brushes, through which knife blades were inserted to be polished by an internal mechanism activated by a side crank. The manufacturer’s name appears on an enamelled ceramic plaque, a testament to its origin and authenticity. The structure shows minor signs of use and wear, such as small cracks or irregularities in the wood, which do not compromise its integrity or function. This object, conceived in an era of increasing domestic mechanisation, represents a notable example of utilitarian design from the Industrial Revolution. Its presence in affluent homes and commercial establishments attests to its effectiveness and popularity, and today it is valued as an exceptional piece of industrial archaeology, appreciated by both collectors of technical antiques and museologists specialising in 18th-century material culture.
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About the sale GRAND JULY AUCTION | OLD MASTERS, HAUTE ÉPOQUE & FINE JEWELLERY
Auction location
Auction time 07/28/2026 at 4:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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