A decade ago (yes really) I bought a an original shaving scuttle from Julie, after she was recommended on Shaveblog and by the serious shaving enthusiasts at the authoritative Badger & Blade forums.
This morning, after nearly ten years of solid, loyal work from my beloved little clay scuttle, I looked down at it as I lathered up and decided I needed to both show my gratitude for this fine work and to let others know what Dirty Bird can offer.
If you are a wet shaver and you like to use creams and then whip them with a badger brush to a perfect consistency lather, you need the perfect scuttle to achieve the right size, surface, and thermal transfer properties. You need a piece that is crafted as thoughtfully as it is artfully. You need a piece as beautiful with the rest of your shaving kit as it is well-engineered to the purpose. You need a dirty bird scuttle. Because as the users at B&B well know, no other shop big or small has nailed it like Julie has.
The walls are the right thickness and material to warm the cream and hold the temperature for the duration of your shave. The available color combinations are drawn from thoughtful palettes and are an attractive match for most bathroom decor. It has a nice heft and weight to it so the water doesn't knock it around when filling and it stays put when you dip into it. The handle is contoured so it's ergonomic and it doesn't get too hot. And of course the key feature - the contours and texture that lathers the bottom of the bowl - work exactly as designed (though they have since been updated to an even more effective waffle pattern since I bought my spiral model, both are good).
In short, you won't find a more attractive or functional shaving scuttle for creams - anywhere, at any price. And it will last you a lifetime, they're durable and I've moved with mine a half dozen times without so much as a chip. And even with this, the price is quite reasonable, Julie makes and ships them out in a jiffy (beating promised times), and she's a joy to talk to, to boot.
Nothing not to like here. I suspect the other pottery is also good. If you are looking for the perfect gift for your wetshaver, though, you're done. read more