Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1975.266 |
Object Name |
Heckle |
Date |
c1800 |
Features |
Flax heckle or steel flax-comb -flat piece of board with a cluster of steel spikes in the middle of the board; a tool used to comb the linen fibre extracted from the flax plant. It consisted of a board or base to which a dense grouping of tines is attached. The initials "D.S." are carved into the wooden part. |
Object Story |
After the retting and breaking stages, the flax would be heckled, which involves pulling the stalks through the tines of the heckle. The fibres would be pulled through the heckle to remove the last pieces of stalk remaining after breaking scutching. After the separation process was complete, the fibre would be spun into thread. D.S. is carved into the wood, these initials are attributed to Darius C. Smith (1794-1869), a Morven area blacksmith and early town counsellor. |
People |
Smith, D.S. |
Subjects |
Agriculture Farm life Textiles Spinning |
Search Terms |
Morven Early Settlement |