George Washington, who served as the first president of the United States, experienced numerous dental issues throughout his lifetime. A widespread myth suggests that his artificial teeth were fashioned from wood, but this concept is incorrect. In reality, his dentures—created in the years from 1789 to 1799—were composed of various materials including lead, teeth extracted from humans and cows, as well as ivory procured from elephants. These dental appliances can currently be observed in the museum at Mount Vernon, once the residence and plantation of Washington, located in Virginia’s Fairfax County.
Jumping forward to the early 18th century, we find the writing table that belonged to Jane Austen, the acclaimed author responsible for classic novels like Emma, and Sense and Sensibility. This unassuming piece of furniture, surprisingly small in size, currently resides at Jane Austen’s House—a museum in Hampshire, England, that once was the domicile of Austen. The choice of such a simple desk might have been influenced by Austen’s desire for privacy in her writing endeavors; she wasn’t keen on inviting public intrigue about her profession.
Another cherished artifact from history is the bicorne black beaver hat, synonymous with Napoleon Bonaparte of the early 19th century. Known for wearing his distinctive hat sideways, Napoleon easily stood out on the battlefield. During his illustrious military and political career, he owned an extensive collection of around 120 such hats. Currently, just over a dozen are known to survive. One of these characteristic hats fetched a staggering 1.9 million euros at an auction in November 2023, bought by an anonymous private collector. However, enthusiasts can still glimpse one of these iconic hats at the Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin, Germany.
Addressing a darker chapter in history, we evaluate the items that accompanied President Abraham Lincoln on the fateful night of his assassination on April 14, 1865. In his possession were two pairs of eyeglasses, a lens polisher, and a pocketknife. Further, he carried a watch fob, a handkerchief, and a wallet, which intriguingly contained a five-dollar Confederate bill. He also carried clippings from various newspapers, many of which heralded his triumphs. These relics from that tragic night are on permanent exhibit at the Library of Congress, situated in Washington, DC.