Measuring Stick
1745 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A triangular wooden measuring stick, formed from a single piece of wood (? European hardwood), Carved with cut out decoration on its three sides. Face A has the thirteen shields of the old Swiss Confederation and the date 1745, side B agricultural scenes, side C the letters of the alphabet.
NOTATION FOR THE SIDES OF TRIANGLES
Face A: side with date carved on it.
Face B: rotating upwards, anti-clockwise at left hand end. Lines only.
Face C: Further rotation upwards, anti-clockwise at left hand end. Carved alphabet.
Face: A
In relief carving:
Panels 1, 2, 3 and 4
In each panel 13 shields of the historic cantons of Switzerland in historical order (Zurich, Berne, Lucerne,Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Zug, Glarus, Basel, Fribourg, Solothurn, Schaffhausen, Appenzell), alternating with vertical columns of chevrons. Vertical pattern with saw-tooth edges at right hand side of each panel.
Panel 5 date 1745 cared in relief. Vertical pattern with saw-tooth edges at right hand side of panel.
Panel 6 blank rectangle with museum number (upside down in this orientation) inscribed in ink. Vertical pattern with saw-tooth edges at right hand side panel.
Panel 7 Six objects some of which are tools including shears, a ruler, and other objects perhaps associated with tailoring.
Face B:
Seven panels with relief carving.
From LH end to RH end.
1. Herdsman with staff and horn in mouth, fourteen animals of various sizes, one or more horned.
2. Group of buildings with archway.
3. Tree, a horned animal, a horned animal (ox), two animals (one horned) with two young. Trees, an archway.
4. Figure with an implement, a tree, figure behind horse pulling a harrow. Figures have different headgear.
5. Horned draught animal with harrow. Two figures with implements. Figures have different headgear but same as in panel 4.
6. Tree smaller animal possibly a dog and a larger horned animal (stag), tree, horned animal (stag), tree.
7. Tree, small animal possibly a dog, two swine, small plant, hole through upper right hand corner.
Face C
Running in opposite direction RH to LH, The alphabet in 25 capital letters in seven panels each containing 3 or 4 letters, carved in relief.
CONDITION OR MODIFICATIONS
The surface of the wood has darkened naturally and shows signs of wear.
There two holes at right hand end (Z of the alphabet) in the end face. (Taking right hands side as side with attached label)
NOTATION FOR THE SIDES OF TRIANGLES
Face A: side with date carved on it.
Face B: rotating upwards, anti-clockwise at left hand end. Lines only.
Face C: Further rotation upwards, anti-clockwise at left hand end. Carved alphabet.
Face: A
In relief carving:
Panels 1, 2, 3 and 4
In each panel 13 shields of the historic cantons of Switzerland in historical order (Zurich, Berne, Lucerne,Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Zug, Glarus, Basel, Fribourg, Solothurn, Schaffhausen, Appenzell), alternating with vertical columns of chevrons. Vertical pattern with saw-tooth edges at right hand side of each panel.
Panel 5 date 1745 cared in relief. Vertical pattern with saw-tooth edges at right hand side of panel.
Panel 6 blank rectangle with museum number (upside down in this orientation) inscribed in ink. Vertical pattern with saw-tooth edges at right hand side panel.
Panel 7 Six objects some of which are tools including shears, a ruler, and other objects perhaps associated with tailoring.
Face B:
Seven panels with relief carving.
From LH end to RH end.
1. Herdsman with staff and horn in mouth, fourteen animals of various sizes, one or more horned.
2. Group of buildings with archway.
3. Tree, a horned animal, a horned animal (ox), two animals (one horned) with two young. Trees, an archway.
4. Figure with an implement, a tree, figure behind horse pulling a harrow. Figures have different headgear.
5. Horned draught animal with harrow. Two figures with implements. Figures have different headgear but same as in panel 4.
6. Tree smaller animal possibly a dog and a larger horned animal (stag), tree, horned animal (stag), tree.
7. Tree, small animal possibly a dog, two swine, small plant, hole through upper right hand corner.
Face C
Running in opposite direction RH to LH, The alphabet in 25 capital letters in seven panels each containing 3 or 4 letters, carved in relief.
CONDITION OR MODIFICATIONS
The surface of the wood has darkened naturally and shows signs of wear.
There two holes at right hand end (Z of the alphabet) in the end face. (Taking right hands side as side with attached label)
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wood, carved |
| Brief description | A triangular wooden stick for measuring cloth, carved from a single piece of wood. Swiss, 1745. |
| Physical description | A triangular wooden measuring stick, formed from a single piece of wood (? European hardwood), Carved with cut out decoration on its three sides. Face A has the thirteen shields of the old Swiss Confederation and the date 1745, side B agricultural scenes, side C the letters of the alphabet. NOTATION FOR THE SIDES OF TRIANGLES Face A: side with date carved on it. Face B: rotating upwards, anti-clockwise at left hand end. Lines only. Face C: Further rotation upwards, anti-clockwise at left hand end. Carved alphabet. Face: A In relief carving: Panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 In each panel 13 shields of the historic cantons of Switzerland in historical order (Zurich, Berne, Lucerne,Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Zug, Glarus, Basel, Fribourg, Solothurn, Schaffhausen, Appenzell), alternating with vertical columns of chevrons. Vertical pattern with saw-tooth edges at right hand side of each panel. Panel 5 date 1745 cared in relief. Vertical pattern with saw-tooth edges at right hand side of panel. Panel 6 blank rectangle with museum number (upside down in this orientation) inscribed in ink. Vertical pattern with saw-tooth edges at right hand side panel. Panel 7 Six objects some of which are tools including shears, a ruler, and other objects perhaps associated with tailoring. Face B: Seven panels with relief carving. From LH end to RH end. 1. Herdsman with staff and horn in mouth, fourteen animals of various sizes, one or more horned. 2. Group of buildings with archway. 3. Tree, a horned animal, a horned animal (ox), two animals (one horned) with two young. Trees, an archway. 4. Figure with an implement, a tree, figure behind horse pulling a harrow. Figures have different headgear. 5. Horned draught animal with harrow. Two figures with implements. Figures have different headgear but same as in panel 4. 6. Tree smaller animal possibly a dog and a larger horned animal (stag), tree, horned animal (stag), tree. 7. Tree, small animal possibly a dog, two swine, small plant, hole through upper right hand corner. Face C Running in opposite direction RH to LH, The alphabet in 25 capital letters in seven panels each containing 3 or 4 letters, carved in relief. CONDITION OR MODIFICATIONS The surface of the wood has darkened naturally and shows signs of wear. There two holes at right hand end (Z of the alphabet) in the end face. (Taking right hands side as side with attached label) |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Monsieur C Beshiktash |
| Object history | “Cloth measure wood, triangular section, carved on one side with the alphabet on the second side with pastoral and hunting scenes in compartments, and on the third side with thirteen shields of the Swiss cantons and the clothworker’s implements. Swiss dated 1745. L. 21 ¼ in.” |
| Historical context | The ell was used over many centuries by tailors as a standard measure for cloth, based on the length of an adult forearm. Across Europe the ell varied in length from place to place and from time to time. In England the ell is mentioned in a legal document of 1196 and in Magna Carta. Tailors’ ell sticks are mentioned in documents from the early 1500s and in English inventories from 1578. Elizabeth I confirmed the English ell at 45 inches, and an official measuring stick, calibrated with this length, still exists (Science Museum, London). The ell was abolished by statute in 1824 (Act 5 GIV c74). The ell was used in German speaking countries and in France (called there an aune). A German inventory of the late 1600s mentions eight wooden ells among a tailor’s possessions. An ell being used to measure cloth appears an illustration in a French publication of 1771. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 712-1893 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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