The Lost Code

Flax Comb

19th century
Wood, iron
H. 119 cm
L. 46.7 cm
W. 19.5 cm
Also known as ‘brakes,' flax combs were household implements used in the final step of preparing linen for spinning. They completely removed any straw left in the linen fiber after scutching and hacking. The comb was set on a bench or chair, and the handfuls of flax passed through it were untangled and completely cleaned of straw residues. It also removed tow, made up of strands that were too short. Once spun, the linen was woven into summer clothing or household linens. The tow was used for caulking. It could also be spun to make sack cloth or used as filling yarn to weave bedspreads.
Musée de la civilisation Collection, 76-550

• Censitaire Dependency