Rippling comb

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Rippling comb

Entry/Object ID

2024.7.1

Description

Rippling comb with widely spaced metal teeth mounted in a board with a metal loop attached to one end for hanging.

Made/Created

Date made

1750 - 1850

Dimensions

Height

3-3/4 in

Width

2-3/4 in

Length

12 in

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

Rippling was the process of removing the seeds from the flax plant. There were a variety of ways to accomplish this, but the best method was to pull the flax through a comb with widely spaced teeth until all of the seeds fell off. This kept the fibers untangled and intact.