Name/Title
FindingsEntry/Object ID
2025.1.7Tags
history, archaeology, scissorsSecondary Title
The material culture of needlework and sewingDescription
Written from an archaeologist's point of view, this is a fascinating and thought provoking examination of the many tools used within needlework and textile production, and what these artefacts might reveal about the societies who used them. The artefacts themselves are considered alongside additional pieces of historical evidence such as written records and pictorial sources.
Divided into chapters based on type of implement, each examines the production methods and materials. The reader is prompted to think about what the various tools might tell us about the user's identity, and how society might have viewed these "as indicators of behaviour or ambitions" which may have fit, or not, an individual's perceived or assigned status. The chapter on shears and scissors offers a comprehensive but condensed history of their development and use. Although it is noted that scissors are "quintessentially utilitarian", and that intended use does not always correspond to actual use, the author draws out elements that may help in an examination of their meaning in a social context. All in all, a very worthwhile read for anyone interested in interpreting scissors and other tools associated with needlework, with a good range of well-used references.Book Details
Author
Beaudry, M.C.Publisher
Yale University PressDate Published
2006ISBN
978-0-300-11093-7Created By
studygroup@scissornet.orgCreate Date
March 7, 2025Updated By
studygroup@scissornet.orgUpdate Date
March 7, 2025