- Manufactured by
- Unidentified
- Owned by
- Acacia Historical Arts International, Inc., American, founded 1989
- Date
- mid 19th-mid 20th century
- Medium
- metal
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 6 1/8 × 4 15/16 × 5 3/4 in. (15.6 × 12.6 × 14.6 cm)
- Description
- A debarking tool, or scratcher head, used to debark trees for the turpentine industry. The tool is constructed from iron. It is roughly J-shaped with a squared hook that ends in a curved rounded tip. The hook has a stirrup shaped attachment at the bottom. The straight edge of the attachment is wider than the rounded side and has a beveled cutting edge. An associated small, white, paper tag reads [SCRATCHER HEAD / (to debark trees) / Turpentine Industry].
- Classification
- Slavery and Freedom Objects
- Tools and Equipment
- Type
- barkers
- Topic
- Agriculture
- American South
- Labor
- Slavery
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2017.108.23.9
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




