Saw

Object Name:

Saw

Object ID:

1948.006.02

Creator:

Morrison, George W. (1832-1917)

Place of Origin:

Richmond, VA

Date:

1864-1865

Description:

Framed handmade miniature saw, made and used during Civil War. Saw frame is constructed of two horizontal pieces and one vertical piece of wood. Vertical piece of wood has been doweled into the horizontal pieces. Two short sections of twine, twisted together, are wound around the top of the horizontal pieces and held in place by a groove that has been carved into the wood. A short piece of wood has been placed between the sections of twine, and is used to twist the twine to keep the saw frame tight. The saw blade is made from a "case-knife." The ends of the blade are slid into the bottom of the horizontal pieces of wood through small slits, with a small iron nail driven through both the wood and the blade. The saw is attached to the wood backing board with a small nail. Inside is lined with paper. Handwritten on the paper in the left corner is "Frame / The Saw". Frame is made of various pieces of wood that have been nailed together. A glass piece is mounted in the frame.

Material:

Wood
Metal
Fiber
Glass

Dimensions:

H-7.9 W-9.9 D-1.8 inches

Provenance:

Used by Lieutenant George W. Morrison of Haverhill, NH, Company I, 1st New Hampshire Regiment while in Pemberton Prison, Richmond, VA. Used for sawing bones to make rings and other trinkets. Donor was daughter of George W. Morrison.

Credit Line:

Gift of Sadie F. Morrison

People:

Morrison, Sadie (c. 1883-), Morrison, George W. (1832-1917)

Subjects:

Civil War, Saws, Prisoners of war