Flax Comb

1750–1800

Not on view

Flax combs, also known as hackles, or heckles, were fitted with parallel steel pins for splitting and combing out the fibers of flax. Using a flax comb, weavers could turn the plant into silky strands of fiber to be woven into linen thread.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Flax Comb
Date: 1750–1800
Geography: Made in Pennsylvania, United States
Culture: American
Medium: Beech
Dimensions: 29 x 9 1/2 in. (73.7 x 24.1 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Robert W. de Forest, 1933
Object Number: 34.100.51
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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Teapot, Gottfried Aust American, Earthenware with slip decoration, American — Teapot
Attributed to Gottfried Aust
1756–71

Corset, cotton, flax, wood, metal, British — Corset
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ca. 1780

Cream jug, Earthenware with slip decoration, American — Cream jug
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Side chair, Solid beech wood (front and side rails), solid pine wood (supporting middle seat rail), solid walnut (legs), walnut and burr walnut veneer. Upholstery materials: drop-in seat frame of plywood, webbing, modern black enameled springs, cotton wadding, jute spring cover cloth, filling, a cover cloth and the show-cover, blued metal tacks. (The seat is a recent fabrication.), Austrian — Side chair
Austrian
ca. 1820–30

Table, Walnut, pine, American — Table
American
1710–50

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