Original Civil War Horse Grooming Brush (SOLD)

This is another nice piece being offered, it is a Civil War Horse Grooming Brush. It is made of leather and measures 8 ½” x 5 ¼”. The bristles are nearly 100% intact and are probably horsehair. The leather hand strap on the top is embossed with a strutting horse over a crown, the number “42”, and “Warranted All Bristles”.

In “Horse Equipment of the Civil War Era”, by Howard Crouch, there is a near identical example of this brush (see pictures). He states “…. from the Civil War period and is quite rare compared to the companion curry comb”. He believes that most of these brushes were English made.

In my book “The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items”, I discuss a very similar horse brush in my collection. It belonged to Private Charles E. Hammett of the 13^th New Hampshire Infantry, and he was the groom for General Neal Dow’s horse (see pictures). All horses in the Civil War needed care and attention to remain healthy and serviceable.

Overall, this is a beautiful horse brush. The leather is still pliable, and the bristles are intact and not shedding. This would have been a necessary tool for officers, wagoners, and cavalrymen.