Rights Holder: Isle of Wight Council
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Unique ID: IOW-1577F3
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
An incomplete Modern cast-lead pencil sharpener of 19th century date (c. 1850-c. 1900).
The lower part is hollow and cone-shaped to house the pencil. It has a rim at the base and a vertical slot at one side. On the opposite side of the slot there is a raised cartouche or similar feature with possible initials. These are, however, corroded and are difficult to define. The decorative handle end is sub-triangular in plan and pointed in side view. Two scrolls rise from each side of the cone to form a six-sided opening. The scrolls support a scallop-like feature which has an almost similar design on each face with a circular hole at the base. One of the scallop-like faces has indeterminate symbols which are possibly Chinese.
This sharpener is worn and corroded in places and has a buff patina. The iron cutting blade is missing but has left iron staining on the inside. A small lead part is missing at the end of the slot near the six-sided opening.
41.5 x 13.6 x 10.8mm. Weight: 8.28g.
Similar pencil sharpeners have been recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. See finds: HAMP1653; HAMP-3334; NARC-E4E785 and NARC-52E1F8.
According to Wikipedia:
'Bernard Lassimone, a French mathematician, applied for the first patent (French patent #2444) on pencil sharpeners in 1828. In 1847,Therry des Estwaux invented the manual pencil sharpener' (accessed 09/08/2011).
Notes:
Found mid-July 2011.
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Class: Pencil sharpener
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MODERN
Period from: MODERN
Period to: MODERN
Date from: Circa AD 1850
Date to: Circa AD 1900
Quantity: 1
Length: 41.5 mm
Width: 13.6 mm
Thickness: 10.8 mm
Weight: 8.28 g
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Other reference: IOW2011-4-296
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.