South Indian Foot Scrubber

Large & Unusual ‘Frog’ Brass Foot Scrubber (Vajri)

This delightful curio is a brass foot scrubber (vajri) and comes from south India. Typically such scrubbers were used by women when bathing to scrub the feet, something made necessary as most users did not wear shoes.

The handle of the scrubber comprises a bulbous frog. The underneath comprises a cage in which numerous rounded pellets – probably musket balls – are held. The underside has a rough, scored surface to allow for the toughened skin of the foot to be vigorously scrubbed.

Bathing often occurred in a public space, perhaps a stream or river. When the scrubber was used, the small pebbles held inside the caged base jingled and made a noise to warn off others in the vicinity that women were bathing nearby.

One

vajri is illustrated in Sharma et al (1994) and several others are illustrated in Jain-Neubauer (2000, p. 35).

The example here is in excellent condition, with a chocolate-brown patina.