Scissors

1760-1780 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This little pair of steel scissors was found with three other small pairs housed at the back of an album containing cut-paper works. Such scissors would not have been made especially for cut-paper work, which could also be done with a knife, but were probably manufactured for needlework.

Ownership & Use
Cut-paper work was a common pastime from the late 17th century, requiring time, skill and patience in the use of small scissors such as these, knives and even pins to cut texts or images. The art was practised by the most modest of people up to the grandest in the country, including Queen Anne and Queen Victoria. A paper cutter would have needed small hands to use such scissors, and in this case they were probably used by a child, or possibly by a woman. Paper cutting was considered a suitable pastime for children and women since, like needlework, it required patient concentration. The subjects were often devotional or morally uplifting texts, but young amateurs were likely to choose less difficult subjects, such as a simple still-life or articles of household furniture. A more skilled practioner could cut animals and figures and even intricate landscapes. Interestingly, such close work was also believed to improve eyesight rather than further strain the eyes.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Steel
Brief description
Pair of paper-cutting scissors.
Physical description
Pair of scissors
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.6cm
  • Width: 3.8cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 21/04/1999 by KN
Gallery label
British Galleries: Until about 1770, most paper-cuts were made with knives. Towards the end of the 18th century, miniature scissors, probably intended for needlework, came into use. The most esteemed paper cutters worked freehand, without preliminary outlines or sketches.(27/03/2003)
Object history
Possibly made in Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Summary
Object Type
This little pair of steel scissors was found with three other small pairs housed at the back of an album containing cut-paper works. Such scissors would not have been made especially for cut-paper work, which could also be done with a knife, but were probably manufactured for needlework.

Ownership & Use
Cut-paper work was a common pastime from the late 17th century, requiring time, skill and patience in the use of small scissors such as these, knives and even pins to cut texts or images. The art was practised by the most modest of people up to the grandest in the country, including Queen Anne and Queen Victoria. A paper cutter would have needed small hands to use such scissors, and in this case they were probably used by a child, or possibly by a woman. Paper cutting was considered a suitable pastime for children and women since, like needlework, it required patient concentration. The subjects were often devotional or morally uplifting texts, but young amateurs were likely to choose less difficult subjects, such as a simple still-life or articles of household furniture. A more skilled practioner could cut animals and figures and even intricate landscapes. Interestingly, such close work was also believed to improve eyesight rather than further strain the eyes.
Collection
Accession number
E.192:39-1976

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Record createdApril 7, 2003
Record URL
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