Model of an Iron Lever Fid 1824

This is a model of an Iron Lever Fid, made by Peter Young. The lever fid itself is made of iron, while the stand it is attached to is made of brass, a metal alloy of copper and zinc. You can tell that the iron lever fid was cast from a mold, as iron would have been forged in specialized foundries and workshops by skilled artisans. The lever fid was an important tool in the age of sail, used for separating the strands of rope when splicing or creating loops. To use it, one would insert the fid between the strands, open the lever, and easily maneuver the strands around each other to create the desired splice. Here, the iron lever fid is presented as a model, which elevates the status of what might be considered craft into something worthy of collection and display. It also draws our attention to the labor and technical skill required to make it. By appreciating both the material and the craftsmanship, we can understand and challenge the traditional divide between art and craft.