Every Victorian barbershop had a rack filled with shaving mugs that belonged to regular customers. And most customers had a personalized mug with a name and often a special picture showing the owner’s job. Shaving was different in those days. No electric razors — just shaving soap, a brush and a safety razor. Because shaving was difficult and small cuts often got infected, men went to the barber several times a week for a shave. First the barber softened the skin and hair with a hot, wet towel on the face. Then the barber would get the customer’s special shaving mug, rub the soap with a wet brush and lather the customer’s face. Then the barber carefully shaved off the softened beard and soap foam with a straight razor. The occupations pictured on mugs ranged from policeman or mail-truck driver to dentist, house painter, gymnast, plumber, undertaker or even ambulance driver. Most of the mugs were made in Germany from the 1860s to the 1920s. Unusual examples sell for thousands of dollars. A Red Cross ambulance driver named McNultie would have been surprised to see his mug picturing a horse-drawn ambulance sell for more than $22,000.

photo:Cowles Syndicate