51/30

This mortising axe was used to cut large, rough mortises (part of a 'mortise and tenon' woodwork joint). Axes of this type were used in work on barns, half-timbered houses, gates, hurdles and fence posts, etc. The axe is inscribed with the name of J. Bostock, one of an old blacksmith family in Wincombe, Gloucestershire.

1 mortising axe: wood and metal; good condition

Citation in publication [H. J. Massingham, 'Country Relics' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939)] –' My mortising axe is of the same family of tools as adze and augers, though more particularly used in chopping out mortises during the construction of barns and half-timbered houses. "J. Bostock" is boldly inscribed on the blade, the name of a very old blacksmith family in Winchcomb. He doubtless was the man who forged the blade, but the axe, and with it a beautiful little tool in the Hermitage...[page break]...called a tomahawk.' (pp 65, 67)., MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘AXE (MORTISING) [‘(Mortising)’ Scored through] // DATE ACQUIRED: January, 1951 // GROUP: CRAFTS-WOOD // NEGATIVE: 35/4 // PERIOD: late 19th century // PLACE OF ORIGIN: The H. J. Massingham Collection // NUMBER: 51/30M // DESCRIPTION: Mr. Massingham obtained this axe from [the donor] who died at the beginning of this century. // Mortising axes were used for cutting large, rough mortises by gouging out the tongue between auger borings made preliminary to this operation. They were employed in work on barns, half-timbered houses, gates, hurdles, and fence posts. // This axe is inscribed with the names J. Bostock, one of a very old blacksmith family in Winchcomb. // The wooden handle measures 19" in length and the blade is 7.75" by 2.25".', MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, circa 1951] - 'Museum of English Rural Life // Equipment to be loaned to the Cotswold Tradition Exhibition // Cat Ref. No.: // 51/30 M // [tick] Mortising Axe [Cleaned] [tick] ...', MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, circa 1951] - '[insert] MASSINGHAM FILE [end insert] // THE COTSWOLD TRADITION // AN EXHIBITION AT CIRENCESTER PARK // MAY-SEPTEMBER 1951 ... // RECEIPT. // Received with gratitude the following articles, collected from Reading University on the 29th April, 1951: // Mortising Axe. ... // Loaned by The Massingham Collection.', MERL ‘Conservation Record’ – ‘Class: // Name: AXE (mortising) // Acc. No.: 51/30 // Conservator: // Date: 27. 8. 55 // part/whole: treatment: method: // part/whole: repair: New haft. method: // part/whole: finish: method: // [tick box, unticked]', MERL Catalogue Form (temporary) – 'Notes: A narrow iron axe with a waist before the socket and a straight wooden handle. // Description: // History: ', MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/30 // NAME: MORTISING AXE // NEG NO.: 35/4 // STORAGE: ', Massingham acquired this object from Mr Bristle Baker, who died at the start of the 20th century. (Added by Tim Jerrome for the Further Afield project, January 2024)

1875-01-01 - 1899-12-31

1920s

Wood, Metal, iron