Hay rake

A hay rake is a hand tool with a long handle and a toothed crosshead for gathering grass and hay. Older examples can have wooden teeth; others have iron teeth. Understand the form through its use rather than equating a traditional hay rake with a modern spring-toothed lawn rake.

Historian Audun Dybdahl's account in Store norske leksikon identifies bird cherry as suitable wood for rake teeth and explains that handle length could vary with working conditions. These describe a craft tradition, not the wood or origin of every surviving example.

Record handle, head, teeth and joints separately. Note missing or renewed teeth and fractures affecting the whole. Repairs can form part of an object's working history. Patina and wear alone cannot establish a production year. Document a farm name or owner's mark as an inscription before using it as provenance.

Sources

• Store norske leksikon: Rive, Audun Dybdahl