Wool carders

Wool carders open, mix and align fibres before spinning. Hand carders are used as a pair. Each has a board or handle carrying a dense field of short teeth. Wool is placed on one card and worked with the other.

Hand and large carders

In Norwegian tradition tangled fibres could first be opened on a larger carder, then processed with hand carders and formed into a roll ready for spinning. Carders should be distinguished from older wool combs with long teeth in a single row.

Assessment

Examine whether a pair belongs together, the handles, leather or backing that holds the teeth, wear and repairs. Similar carders may have been paired later. A carved name or date may record an owner or gift rather than manufacture. Rusted teeth and loose backing require careful handling.

Source: Store norske leksikon, Karder.