Object number
60/41
Exhibition
Description
This walking stick has been grown from a piece of blackthorn, and consists of a stem with three twisted pieces around it. It would probably have taken about three years to grow, with the shoots being twisted around the stem while it was growing, and then taken another year after cutting to harden and set in its present form. It came from the East Midlands.
Physical description
1 walking stick: blackthorn wood
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Standard museum name: … // Accession number: … // Classification: … // Negative number: … // Acquisition method: … // Acquired from: … // Date: … // Store: … // Condition: … // Recorder: KCS // Date: 23/3/94 // Description: Blackthorn. Shoots from base were twisted up around the main stem while still growing. Once cut, it was turned upside down, so thicker base now smoothed to form handle. // Unusual stick with three vine growths bent round the shank and attached. No ferrule. // Dimensions: Length 84cm. // Associated information: Mr. Robinson writes: Formerly belonged to Mr. Sandford-Eaton, an Irish brewer who settled in the Midlands. Helped introduce modern methods of brewing to Derby/Barton-on-Trent area. Apparently grown in its present form, probably by a hedgecutter & layer. Probably took about 3 years to grow, the hedgecutter coming back to it from time to time to twist its shoots round the stick, probably holding them in place with string for a year after cutting to allow the wood to harden and set in the present form. // References: …'
Production place
East Midlands [region]
Object name
Material
Dimensions
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_3282.tif - High resolution image
