Civil War Soldier’s Comb, found in a brothel in Charleston, SC

This is a very interesting and unique Civil War artifact – it is a wooden comb which was found in a Brothel in Charleston, SC. It measures 6 ¼” x 1 ½”.

Throughout the years, vice has somehow survived and thrived in Charleston–sometimes hidden, but always there. The middle of the 19th century saw Charleston in her prime, with all manner of business flourishing, including bars and brothels. According to Mark Jones’ Wicked Charleston, business was so good for one lady of the night that she was able to save enough money to build her own brothel.

Civil War brothels were common in cities with large military encampments, driven by the influx of soldiers and economic hardship for women. The presence of hundreds of thousands of soldiers away from home, combined with economic hardship for civilian women, led to a boom in prostitution. Some cities attempted to regulate them by creating licensed systems with medical checks to combat the high rates of venereal disease, which significantly impacted troop readiness.

This comb was recovered from the walls of a building in Charleston, SC that was used for prostitution during the Civil War. These combs were a common item sold in camps by sutlers. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.