RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Aug 20, 2017 16:06:51 GMT -6
I have a bad habit in thrift stores of picking through little bowls for that 'perfect' shave soap bowl. I have found numerous ones that I really appreciate and that have worked well. I found one small wooden one with some tarnished old metal in it that I figured was a perfect fit for a modern soap puck such as Truefitt & Hill, what have you. I picked this up maybe two years ago now, but have used it for only about the last month and have been keeping a sandalwood hard soap in it. The other day I went to a collectibles sale and there was a fella selling these weird old pieces of wood sculptures and amidst them was a little bowl that was the same shape as my bowl. Made only with wood, but the same shape. I ask the guy what it is. Well, it turns out to be a.... 19th century or possibly earlier Tibetan tea bowl called a Jha-Phor, made from carved burl wood with a silver lining and foot trim. These are sometimes passed down through generations and a true well-off Tibetan used to be rarely caught without such a bowl/cup tucked into their outfit somewhere in case they wished a drink of tea. There is a tea made with butter in Tibet (traditionally Yak butter) that is the favorite drink for such a cup - and food can be eaten in it as well. These things can go for a couple of hundred dollars and at times much more. The wooden only one the vendor had was the only tea bowl he had, and he wanted 200 for his - and it was chipped. I said I had 'best take my shaving soap out of it then' and he just got this pained look on his face and didn't really say much. There you have it. My tripped over, already had it just didn't know it, 'catch of the day' thanks to shaving!
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Post by GarnerPW on Aug 20, 2017 16:30:42 GMT -6
That is a nice looking bowl. I think a tea type soap would be in order for this bowl then.
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Post by wchnu on Aug 20, 2017 18:07:49 GMT -6
Wow. That is a cool story!! I would keep a soap in it. Lol. I do a lot of looking at junk stores. There is sometimes neat stuff. I have never really found anything like this tough. At least I don't think I have.
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Post by jayaruh on Aug 20, 2017 19:26:20 GMT -6
Cool story for sure. It is always good to have a cool story to go with a nice piece.
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Aug 20, 2017 19:48:51 GMT -6
That is a nice looking bowl. I think a tea type soap would be in order for this bowl then. Great idea! I wonder if a liquified/heated glycerin like the VDH soap would accept a small dollop of pu erh tea stirred in? That would be cool. I imagine there must be people making shave soap with a spot of tea in it. I like this idea.
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
|
Post by RocketMan on Aug 20, 2017 19:51:24 GMT -6
Wow. That is a cool story!! I would keep a soap in it. Lol. I do a lot of looking at junk stores. There is sometimes neat stuff. I have never really found anything like this tough. At least I don't think I have. You could have an ex presidents coffee mug you are using and not even know! : )
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Post by wchnu on Aug 20, 2017 20:09:18 GMT -6
Wow. That is a cool story!! I would keep a soap in it. Lol. I do a lot of looking at junk stores. There is sometimes neat stuff. I have never really found anything like this tough. At least I don't think I have. You could have an ex presidents coffee mug you are using and not even know! : ) Or maybe a razor one used!
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Post by birdlives on Aug 20, 2017 23:45:18 GMT -6
You are both right!
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