Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID # |
1961.027.003 |
Object Name |
Steel |
Title |
Victorian Scissor Sharpener |
Lexicon category |
4: T&E For Materials |
Date |
pre-1865 |
Artist |
Unidentified maker |
Made |
Unknown |
Place of Origin |
England, United Kingdom? |
Description |
A woman's hand-held steel (scissor sharpener). The steel is block-like, with a wooden body that has two steel blades inserted at an upwards angle in the two longer sides. The top has a turned finial, that provides a finger grip. The wood is varnished. There is no maker's identification. |
Makers mark |
None |
Provenance |
This item formerly belonged to Catharine B. Sutton (née Nahneebahweequay or Catharine Brown Sunego) who was an Ojibwa (Anishnaabe) woman. Mrs. Sutton died in September of 1865, at her log home in Sarawak Township, Grey County, so this item likely pre-dates that year. The item was passed down in the family, eventually belonging to Mrs. Catherine Morgan (née Catherine Staves) of Brantford, Ontario, who was a grand-daughter of Catharine and William Sutton. Catherine Staves was married to Reverend Alfred Morgan. Alfred Morgan was the last owner of the item. |
Collection |
Textiles, Needlework & Accessories Collection |
Material |
Wood/Steel/Finish |
Dimensions |
H-4.2 W-2 L-2.7 cm |
Found |
Brantford, Ontario |
People |
Sutton, Catharine Morgan, Catherine Morgan, Alfred Sutton, Catherine |
Subjects |
Ojibwa Anishnaabe Victorian Sutton Collection First Nations of Central Canada Needlework Scissors & shears |
Search Terms |
Sarawak Township Victorian Ojibwa (Anishnaabe, Anishnibeg) |
Function |
A tool used by a needleworker for sharpening small scissors (perhaps Mrs. Sutton's little embroidery scissors? and perhaps needles, although usually those were inserted into emery-filled small cushions to sharpen them). |