PMA CATALOGUING WORKSHEET

ACCESSION
NUMBER: 2015.10.9

IDENTIFICATION
OBJECT TERM OBJECT STATUS DIGITAL IMAGE TAKEN
Trimmer, wick accessioned yes
no
PARTS NUMBERS OLD ACCESSION NUMBER RELATED NUMBERS

BRAND NAME TITLE MILITARY UNIT

STYLE MANUFACTURER ARTIST/MAKER

NATIONALITY ASSOCIATED RELIGION ASSOCIATED GROUP OR CULTURE

GEOGRAPHIC GROUP OR CULTURE AREA GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN GEOGRAPHIC USE(S)

CLASSIFICATION (Nomenclature 3.0)

CATEGORY CLASSIFICATION SUB-CLASSIFICATION
FURNISHINGS LIGHTING EQUIPMENT OTHER LIGHTING ACCESSORIES

DATING
EARLY DATE EXACT DATE LATE DATE DATE (PERIOD/ERA)
1800, circa
LOCATION TRACKING
LOCATION:SITE LOCATION:ROOM
PMA Temporary

LOCATION:UNIT LOCATION:SHELF LOCATION:BOX

LOCATION REMARKS

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
QUANTITY NUMBER OF COMPONENTS
1 1

COLOUR(S) MATERIAL(S) TECHNIQUE

Natural metal Metal Forged

LENGTH WIDTH HEIGHT DEPTH THICKNESS DIAMETER UNIT

16.5 2.6 5.1 cm
Other
________
OBJECT DESCRIPTION (INCLUDING DESCRIPTION OF PARTS)
The object resembles a pair of scissors with one longer blade and one shorter blade. The longer blade ends in a point, but the
shorter blade ends with a rectangular metal plate attached to the inside of the blade. This plate corresponds to a rectangular
metal box attached to the inside of the longer blade. When the scissors are closed, the metal plate rests inside the box. The
blades are connected together by a small, rounded metal pin. The handles of the blades are circular. The bottom handle has
a small, round bead of metal attached to the bottom that acts as a rest. The upper handle has a longer metal knob attached
to the top facing the opposite direction as the box and plate. This was perhaps meant to be used as a thumb rest. A similar
metal knob is attached on the outside of the longer blade, near its tip. There is little ornamentation in the metal-working,
save for two slight curls where the blades are attached to the handles.

MARKINGS METHOD OF MARKINGS

August 2016
CONDITION and CONSERVATION
GENERAL CONDITION CONDITION DATE (YYYY Month DD)
Excellent Good Fair Poor 2016 November 9
CONDITION REMARKS:
The object is covered in a layer of rust and surface dirt. There is a significant chip out of the metal plate attached to the
smaller blade. The rest of the object is structurally sound.

SOURCE INFORMATION
SOURCE NAME (Last, First) MODE OF ACQUISITION ACQUISITION DATE (YYYY Month
Rattenbury, Patricia Gift Purchase DD)
Transfer Other 2015 May 26
_______________
PROVENANCE
The artefact was purchased as part of a personal collection before being donated to the museum.

ASSOCIATED EVENTS

HISTORY
Early candle wicks were often incompletely burned, leaving bits of carbon which, upon dropping in the wax, caused uneven
wasteful burning of the candle. This kind of tool was used trim the carbon. The small box attached to the trimmer would
catch the cut wick once it was clipped.

REGISTRATION AND CATALOGUING

CATALOGUED BY (Last, First) CATALOGUED DATE (YYYY Month DD)
Dykeman, Emily MMC 2016 2016 November 9
CATALOGUE REFERENCES CITED:

CATALOGUERS REMARKS:

Also referred to as a candle snuffer (E. Dykeman Oct. 21, 2016)

The width is measured from one side of the wick box to the other. It does not include the metal knobs attached to the longer
blade and upper handle. (E. Dykeman Oct. 21, 2016)

August 2016