Caulking Mallet

Name/Title

Caulking Mallet

Description

Caulking mallet. Wood with a hickory handle. Each face of mallet has an iron ring. The mallet head is likely lignum vitae. Used to fill seams between wooden boards or planks with oakum. Upon completion the seam was coated with hot pitch to seal it. The handle is set through the head and wedged.

Made/Created

Artist

American, unknown

Date made

1840 - 1860

Time Period

Mid 19th Century

Place

Region

Northeast

Continent

North America

Notes

Made about 1850. Inventory card cites a date of ca. 1800.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

None

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Width

33 cm

Length

33.3 cm

Dimension Notes

Width measures the hammer whereas the length measures the handle.

Material

Wood (lignum vitae), Wood (hickory), Metal (iron)

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good