Crayon Holder and Extension Bar
date: label: date made
content: 18th century
notes: label: Description
content: A 3-3/8" round brass handle has an opening for inserting a crayon. It is not marked. The second object is a 3-1/2" hexagonal brass bar with hollow steel ends. One end is marked with the number 24 and the letter L. The other end is marked with the number 22 and the letter P. The bar could be inserted into a pen handle to accommodate different sizes of leads, although the ends and the openings in the ends have the same diameters.
label: Description
content: The two writing instruments are made from brass of different colors, so the pieces may not belong together. The dates of objects purchased with these writing instruments suggest they were made in the 18th century. Crayon holders and double-ended pencil holders were known in Europe by the 17th century and widespread by the 18th century.
label: Description
content: References: Maya Hambly, <i>Drawing Instruments, 1580–1980</i> (London: Sotheby's Publications, 1988), 65–66.
label: Description
content: Sotheby & Company, Catalogue of a Collection of Scientific Instruments, the Property of the Late Henry Russel Wray, London, 1959 (a copy of the catalogue is in the accession file).
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Europe
topic: label: Subject
content: Drawing Instruments
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Pens and Pencils
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content: Science & Mathematics
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.316936
label: accession number
content: 228694
label: catalog number
content: 316936
objectType: label: Object Name
content: crayon holder
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: steel (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 14.2 cm x .6 cm x .6 cm; 5 19/32 in x 1/4 in x 1/4 in