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This is a palm iron, also called a 'saddler's iron' or 'hand iron', and was used to form a grip with which to push a curved needle into leather and to pull it through. It was held in the palm of the hand rather than over the finger. Nothing is known of its origin.

1 Palm Iron: metal (iron); fair conditionPalm irons were used by saddlers to take the head of their strong curved pack needle and form a firm grip with which to tug the needle through the leather. The sewing of saddlery requires a great deal of strength in the arm. The iron is a very simialr tool to the sail-maker's palm. It is held in the palm of the hand, not over the finger like a thimble. This palm iron probably had a fairly long handle, with a slit near the end to take the head of the needle, for this was the usual form of palm iron.

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Nothing is known of the origin of this iron. Palm irons were used by saddlers to take the head of their strong curved pack needle and form a firm grip with which to tug the needle through the leather. The sewing of saddlery requires a great deal of strength in the arm, for instance in sewing the facing of a collar. The iron is a very similar tool to the sail-maker’s palm. It is held in the palm of the hand, not over the finger like a thimble. // It is made of iron and shaped like a small scoop, the inside being pitted with small indentations. It narrows to a solid point of metal which looks as if a piece had been broken off at one time. It probably had a fairly long handle, with a slit near the end to take the head of the needle, for this was the usual form of palm iron. // It measures 4 inches in length.', No Lavinia Smith No. recorded.

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)