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Pinking iron

Pinking iron
Iron
c. 1767-1802
Pinking iron
Pinking iron
Iron
c. 1767-1802
Pinking iron Iron c. 1767-1802
Status
Not on view
Label Text

Pinking irons were used to finish the edges of fabrics in lieu of hemming, as well as to provide decorative embellishments for garments. When struck with a mallet, the iron cut through the fabric to produce a crisp, scalloped edge. This example, marked "IK" and "K-GHT" on its shaft, may be one of the "Com[plete] Sett of Pink[in]g Irons" that George Washington received from London in 1768. Skilled house slaves such as Oney Judge and Charlotte hemmed and made trims for garments and caps worn by Martha Washington and her daughter, Patsy, and most likely would have been familiar with the practice of pinking fabrics.

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Date1765-1800
Geography Possibly made - EnglandPossibly made - United States
Medium/TechniqueIron
DimensionsOverall (H x W x D): 4 5/16 in. x 1 in. x 5/8 in. (10.95 cm x 2.54 cm x 1.6 cm)
Credit LinePurchase, 1958
Object numberW-2141
DescriptionPinking iron punch; short iron cylinder with flatted end at top and a semi-circular, notched, and fluted edge at its base.
Published ReferencesCarol Borchert Cadou, The George Washington Collection: Fine and Decorative Arts (New York: Hudson Hills Press, 2006), 204.
MarkingsMaker's marks, stamped along its length: "IK" and "K[illegible] GHT".
Mount Vernon's object research is ongoing and information about this object is subject to change. For information on image use and reproductions, click here.
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