McIntyre Farm

McIntyre Farm - Miscellaneous

More odds and sods from the McIntyre farm. The bits of buffware, redware and stoneware, with their various glazes, were used to store and handle foodstuffs. The mica represents a mineral byproduct; the slate pencil: education; the coin: commerce; and the buttons: clothing, both plain and formal. The lead foil likely sealed a favourite pick-me-up.

English Penny

Collection: McIntyre Farm
Object: Coin, Copper
Material: Copper
Period: Early 19th Century
Date: 1831 to 1831

This 1831 copper penny bears the image of William IV, the portrait for which (facing right) was engraved by William Wyon. The inscription reads "GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA." The reverse bears the image of a seated Brittania bearing a trident and shield. This was the first penny of William's reign.

Mica

Collection: McIntyre Farm
Object: Mica Fragment
Material: Mineral
Period: Late 19th Century - Early 20th Century

Mica was commonly used in viewing windows of fancier woodstoves, lamps and early electrical appliances. Translucent and resistant to heat and fire, it was the tempered glass of its day. This may be a trimming piece from one of several local mining or quarry operations.

Slate Pencil

Collection: McIntyre Farm
Object: Writing Stylus, Graphite
Material: Graphite
Period: Mid 19th Century - Late 19th Century

This writing stylus was used to inscribe lessons or information onto a slate tablet. Some feature a paper label or wrapper to protect the writer's hand from direct contact with stylus. Students used slate pencils - tough, small-diameter cylinders of rock- to etch their copywork onto a slate. The process could be erased and repeated, again and again, resulting in considerable savings on paper.