Artist/Maker Unknown
Date Production/Creation
End of the 19th century
Entry in the museum collection
1990
Place of origin
Liège, Belgium, Europe
Current location
Museum of Walloon Life - Province of Liège, Belgium
Material
Inlaid wood
Dimension
8 × 6 cm.
Inventory Number 5044587
Keyword Repair Textile Zero waste
Copyright Province of Liège – Museum of Walloon Life
Status In storage
Image Credit Province of Liège – Museum of Walloon Life
A wooden egg to fight waste. It’s no yolk… but how does it work?
What is this object about, who are the people behind it?
This wooden egg was used to repair holes in socks and stockings. It was placed inside the worn fabric to stretch the fibre and make darning it with a needle and thread easier.
What places is this object related to, how European/transnational is it?
As with other everyday items, textiles were not automatically replaced when they were damaged. Small holes could be darned or pieces of fabric sewn on clothing to cover parts that were too worn.
Why and how did this object arrive in the museum’s collection?
Unknown.
What is the relation of this object to waste?
Nowadays, textile production is one of the biggest causes of pollution in the world. Repairing textiles extends their life and stops them becoming waste products.
