491 – hand shears: sheep shears
- Physical description:
- Sprung hand shears - two blades bolted together.
- Museum classification:
- Working Tools
- Size:
- 280mm long
- Information:
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'That all of our lives hang by a thread is a well known part of mythology. Also told is that the fates are ever-present with a pair of spring hand shears such as this to cut the thread of life as it so pleases them. Some west country witches in the past were known to re-enact in pantomime this power over life and death played by a pair of hand held shears. One such was Tibble Brewer of Great Torrington.'
- Materials:
- Iron
- Copyright ownership:
- Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'That all of our lives hang by a thread is a well known part of mythology. Also told is that the fates are ever-present with a pair of spring hand shears such as this to cut the thread of life as it so pleases them. Some west country witches in the past were known to re-enact in pantomime this power over life and death played by a pair of hand held shears. One such was Tibble Brewer of Great Torrington.'