Posted by: Blog Administrator
on Nov 24, 2009
Tagged in:
x-ray ,
Tytherton Lucus ,
trailed decoration ,
surface ,
soil ,
Sebastian Foxley ,
pottery ,
Objects conservator ,
mystery object ,
late 14th or early 15th century ,
iron slag ,
iron ,
identity ,
ideas ,
hollow inside ,
ditch ,
corrosion ,
copper ,
conservation ,
cleaning ,
circular ,
Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre
Objects conservator Sebastian Foxley has recently been working on a mystery object from Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre.
Object before cleaning
The object was received completely obscured by corrosion and soil but an x-ray revealed that it is circular and has a trailed decoration on the top surface. It is hollow inside and initial cleaning also showed that the object is made from iron and copper. Please 'read more' to see the object at the end of the cleaning process.....
Posted by: Blog Administrator
on Jul 14, 2009
Tagged in:
Wiltshire ,
unidentified ,
Sue Casas ,
pacify ,
mystery objects ,
leather ,
late 19th/early 20th century livestock blindfold ,
identity ,
guessed ,
glass wasp ,
fly trap ,
correctly ,
Chippenham Museum ,
Castle Combe Museum ,
animal ,
2 ,
1939-1945
Congratulations to Sue Casas who has correctly guessed the identity of 2 of the mystery objects.
No. 1 is a late 19th/early 20th century livestock blindfold. Made from leather this would have been used to pacify an animal that had become agitated by covering it's eyes. Animals are still sometimes blindfolded during transport or some veterinary procedures, as it lowers the heart rate and makes them less stressed. This example is from the collection of Chippenham Museum.
No. 2 is a glass wasp or fly trap from Castle Combe Museum. Still used today this style of trap would be baited with a sticky sugary solution to attract the wasps, who would fly in the hole at the base. Once inside they become disorientated and are unable to fly out, and end their time drowning in the sticky solution. Due to their inability to fly directly upwards bees are quite safe from this sort of trap, as they cannot fly in.
No. 3 remains unidentified. I wish we did have part of a dalek in one of Wiltshire's museums but I'm afraid this is not the case. To help you on your way I'll give you a clue. The object dates from the period 1939-1945. Have another look at the photograph below and see if you get any sudden flashes of inspiration! Good luck, Tim
Mystery Object Number Three
