Shoemaker's or Saddler's tool - English style awl

Object/Artifact

-

Waterperry Museum

Shoemaker's awl

Shoemaker's awl

Name/Title

Shoemaker's or Saddler's tool - English style awl

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.759

Description

Shaped wooden handle with curved metal spike.

Context

This awl is described in the Encyclopaedia of Diderot and D'Alembert, Paris, c 1760, as an English style awl. As with all shoemaker's tools there can be a great variety in size - they can vary from 60mm - 100 mm in length and be of different thicknesses and curves. It is important that the hole made by the awl should be of a smaller size than the thickness of the thread which will pass through it, to ensure a tight fit. Shoemaker's awl are interchangeable with saddler's awls . Ref: R. A Salaman, Dictionary of Leather-working Tools c1700- 1950. Allen & Unwin, 1989.

Cataloged By

Felix Lam

Category

Saddlers, Shoemakers, Cobblers, Tools

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Source or Donor

Gordon Dempster

Acquisition Method

Transfer

Dimensions

Length

150 mm

Circumference

100 mm

Weight

32 g

Dimension Notes

Circumference refers to widest part of handle

Material

Steel, Metal, Wood - Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Location

* Untyped Location

C8S3

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Web Links and URLs

The Shoe Museum, Northampton, UK

General Notes

Note

Thanks to Dr Adam Bowett, furniture historian, for wood identification