This cased trepanning (or trephining) set is in excellent condition. About nine inches long, it is lined in a purple velvet and is fitted for two trephines with removable handles and associated medical instruments. The seem to be, fortunately, mint and unused. The trephines are brass and steel, showing lots of original gilt to the brass and lots of fiery blue on the steel. The handles are checkered gutta percha or hard rubber and have no cracks or chips. Two matching scalpels are in place in the kit. Both have smooth ebony grips and are marked Tiemann on the ricasso of the blades. Both blades are very good, smooth, bright metal with a few small gray spots along the edge and at the edge of the handle. A bone brush is also present, in very good shape, with no chips or cracks. Recesses for a few other tools are present and it should be possible to fill them with the correct instruments with a little searching.

The case is very good. The lid has a plain oval brass escutcheon on the lid and is secured with a sliding lock such as is found on military surgical sets, though this one has no US army markings. The top has two small hairline cracks and some light handling scratches, but is stable and secure. The lining of the lid is in place and matches the body.

The set likely dates to the Civil War period., but it is difficult to be more precise. These sets often have an address label that might help glued to the lining of the lid, but they are frequently gone. The Tiemann stamp on the scalpels is done with sans-serif letters, but with no period after the name and no “& Co.” It is an impressive set, regardless, with great color to the lining and to the tools.  [sr]

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