09-04-2006, 07:39 AM
Quote:Next round. When were cross-bladed scissors, those with a joint, invented and how widespread were they vis-a-vis the type in the pic below?
Quote:These scissors did not gain widespread use in Europe until the 1600's.
That makes no sense at all. I work daily with samples of such scissors from norwegian viking urban 9th century contexts, and I've seen the type from digs as far back as pre-roman iron age gaul (La Téne culture). They are also depicted in tons and tons of later medieval illuminations. I don't really see how they can be considered not to have gained widespread use before the 17th century...