A WROUGHT IRON SO-CALLED MINER'S SPIKE OR 'STICKING TOMMY'

A WROUGHT IRON SO-CALLED MINER'S SPIKE OR 'STICKING TOMMY'

C.1820-50

having a sprung candle holder with thumbpiece, attached to a stem with large loop 'pull', terminating in a long spike for fixing into a beam

26cm long

Catalogue Note

Invariably this form of candleholder is of high quality, with little wear, implying it is highly unlikely they were ever used in a mine.

Literature

For similar examples see J. Caspall, 'Fire & Light in the Home', p. 168/9, figs. 374-376, for comparable examples.