Objekt 23
Silver light plaster scissors with base
Description
Since ordinary candles were made of animal fat until the beginning of the 19th century and became increasingly sooty and drippy with increasing length, the wicks had to be shortened regularly. Specially shaped scissors called "light cleaning scissors" were used for this purpose. In contrast to normal household scissors, they have shortened but significantly wider cutting blades, so that the separated piece of wick remains on the scissor blades and can be disposed of directly.
Object description
Dresden, 18th century (base); Basel, 1804-1820 (scissors)
Silver
Inv. 1913.76.a.-b.