Object number
2001/6
Description
Friendly Society shepherd crook polehead. It possibly reads: 'J. MILLER', but part of the 'R' is scratched off.
This is a pole and polehead which belonged to a friendly society (organisations which were set up to act as mutual insurance/benefit societies). A polehead, sometimes called a 'staff head', is a metal emblem (usually brass) that was attached to a long pole used in processions. This pole is stained/varnished dark brown with a small emblem painted near the top. It possibly reads: 'J. MILLER', but part of the 'R' is scratched off. The polehead itself is a shepherd's crook style with a small point at the end of the curve. The base of the neck has small spike-thorn protrusions.
Physical description
1 polehead with pole: metal, wood
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Polehead // Description // unidentified pole (12) // Pole & Polehead // Polehead is a shephards crook style with a small point at the end of the curve. Decorative shaped neck towards the base. // Pole is stained/tarnished dark brown with a small emblem painted near the top. Looks like it reads J.MILLER but part of the 'R' is scratched off. // Dimensions // Length of pole: 91cm. // Height of polehead: 23cm. // Width of polehead: 7.5cm.'
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