Title
Straight razor with box
Year/Period
1960s–1970s
Region
Acquired in Singapore
Object Type
Material
Dimension
Object size: Refer to parts
Accession No.
2023-01327
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of the Yue-Wong Family
This straight razor was one of the tools used by Mdm W.Y. Low, who worked as a hairdressing apprentice then hairdresser in Singapore from around 1946 to the early 1980s. Also known as a cut-throat razor, the straight razor consists of a single, narrow blade which opens up from the guard or handle scale when in use. The handle scale could be made from a variety of materials, and this razor has a plastic one inscribed with the words “Gold Stars”. Straight razors were the main means of shaving in the latter half of the 18th century and 19th century. The popularity of the straight razor waned with the increasing use of the hoe-type safety razor in the 20th century due to the latter’s ease of use.
