Gorgeous primitive Early Americana hetchel, Hackel. Flax comb.

Signed and dated: A 1808 Rset)

12 1/4” long. 3 1/4” wide. 4” tall.

Fine toothed. Approximately 270 teeth. All are as straight as the day it was made.

This would have been the final one (finest, teeth, closest set) in a series of 3 used to straighten and separate the flax fibers.

Protectively tin - clad nail base and end holes

Skillfully created by a local rural tinsmith .

In the same condition as when new, 216 years ago.

Few nicer.

Oops. Should have read, “Approximately 140 teeth.”