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French Naval Surgical Set by Samson
- Samson made this extensive surgical set for the demanding practice of medicine at sea
- The set contains an extensive array of specialized surgical instruments, including a trepan
- The printed inventory identifies the chest as intended for use aboard French state vessels
- The fitted wooden case bears a naval surgeon’s inscription and an inventory dated 1854
- Get complete item description here
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Samson
Inventory dated 1854
Equipped for the formidable demands of surgery at sea, this extensive French surgical set by Samson offers a compelling record of 19th-century naval medicine. Its fitted wooden case houses an array of instruments, including scissors, forceps and curved probes. A printed inventory mounted inside the lid identifies the chest as a surgical outfit intended for use aboard French state vessels, establishing its specialized maritime purpose.
Working. . .
Samson
Inventory dated 1854
Equipped for the formidable demands of surgery at sea, this extensive French surgical set by Samson offers a compelling record of 19th-century naval medicine. Its fitted wooden case houses an array of instruments, including scissors, forceps and curved probes. A printed inventory mounted inside the lid identifies the chest as a surgical outfit intended for use aboard French state vessels, establishing its specialized maritime purpose.
Working far from hospital resources, naval surgeons needed the knowledge and practical skill to treat everything from everyday illnesses and dental problems to serious battle injuries requiring amputation. Their surgical chests consequently accommodated a broad range of medical needs, bringing an extensive selection of specialized tools into a portable, carefully organized case. This set reflects the considerable responsibilities entrusted to these practitioners and the challenges of caring for a crew at sea.
Among its most fascinating instruments is the trepan, used to create an opening in the skull. The accompanying inventory includes a dedicated section headed “Instruments pour le Trépan,” documenting the specialized equipment supplied for this procedure. Dated 1854, the inventory provides a valuable documentary counterpart to the surviving instruments, preserving a detailed account of the tools available to a naval surgeon of the period.
Arranged within individual recesses against a rich red lining, the instruments combine practical organization with the careful craftsmanship of a fitted surgical chest. The inventory identifies their maker as Samson, a Parisian surgical instrument manufacturer and supplier to the Faculty of Medicine of Paris. Brass mounts reinforce the original wooden case, while a brass plaque engraved “M. Aurran / Chirurgien de Marine” likely refers to Charles-Marius-Benoît Aurran, the French naval surgeon who served aboard the Euménide and was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1858. Together, the handsome ensemble offers a compelling glimpse into the history of medicine at sea.
Instruments marked “Samson”
Provenance:
Monsieur Aurran, naval surgeon, France, likely Charles-Marius-Benoît Aurran (1827-1912), who served aboard the Euménide
Private collection, France
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Case: 5" high x 23" wide x 13 1/2" deep
| Period: | 19th Century |
| Origin: | France |
| Type: | Physician/Surgical Instruments |
| Depth: | 13.5 in. (34.29 cm) |
| Width: | 23.0 in. (58.42 cm) |
| Height: | 5.0 in. (12.7 cm) |
Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
Examine select works in person before you commit
125% Guarantee
Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
Trusted Expertise
Over two centuries of combined experience across our specialists
