Object number
51/1210
Description
This D-shaped fire steel would be struck with a flint to make a spark to ignite tinder and start a fire. The striking face of this steel has been worn away by frequent contact with the flint. It is of the type in common use from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, and probably dates from the seventeenth century.
Physical description
1 fire steel
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This English fire steel is similar in shape, though smaller in size than 51/1209. It is in the shape of the letter “D”, the striking part being the upright, measuring 3.9 inches in height by .5 inches wide and .2 inches thick. The striking face shows signs of use, being worn away frequent contact with the flint. The hand hold ends in a twist. // See also 51/1209.', MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 51/1209 – ‘Ever since man acquired the art of smelting iron, the flint and steel method of obtaining fire has been in use. This was the method used in connection with the tinder box, in which the necessary material consisted of a well tempered piece of iron and steel, a piece of flint and some tinder. As the flint is struck against the steel a small fragment of white hot metal falls onto the sensitive tinder, igniting it. The actual fire was obtained by the aid of a sulphur match. // This is of a type in common use in England from the 16th to the 19th centuries, although most of them were probably 18th century in date.’, Victoria & Albert Museum No. M367, 1917.
Production date
1600-01-01 - 1699-12-31
Production period
Seventeenth century
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\35 series negatives\Scans\35_743.tif - High resolution image