What-is-it question XXXI.

[2209patrick]

These items were made throughout the 19th century.
This piece is 4 inches (10.16 cm) long.
What was it called?



Regards,
Pat.
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[draketail]

My guess it looks like a pair of women's sewing scissors. In the age before sewing machines, women often had a pair that was carried on a chatalaine or in a small sewing tool kit. Wealthy women often had silver scissors.
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[2209patrick]

They are not sewing scissors.
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[wev]

ribbon puller -- at least that is what my grandmother used her's for.
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[2209patrick]

Well done Wev!

Yes, they are called ribbon pullers.
Don't see many around.

Pat.
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[wev]

We put them to a rather different use in high school. . .
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[Doos]

I thought they were used for diapers (or is that what a ribbon puller does).
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[2209patrick]

According to my book, ribbon pullers were originally used for threading a baby's diaper.
This is reflected in the design, a stork concealing a baby inside its wing.



I'm sure these were useful for other purposes as well.

Pat.
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