Hetchel

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Hetchel

Entry/Object ID

2024.4.1

Description

Hetchel attached to a thick, wooden board slightly larger than the metal comb. It is in turn mounted on a longer, slightly thinner board with a metal hanging loop on one of the short ends. Painted red. Given the spacing of the metal prongs, this would probably be considered a medium hetchel.

Made/Created

Date made

1750 - 1850

Dimensions

Height

5-3/4 in

Width

6 in

Length

23 in

Material

painted wood and metal

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

Hetchels, also known as hackles or heckles, were used to prepare flax for spinning. Bunches of flax were drawn through a series of one to three combs graduated from coarse to fine. In the process, any remaining hard pieces or gum were separated from the fibers and longer fibers were separated from the tow (short fibers).