Engraving Tools. Dabber.

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Date:Not Recorded

Description:Engraver's dabber.

Usually made by the engraver or printer, this tool consists of a roll of green felt, bound by string and knotted. It is around 6cm long.

The knot forms a handle for the tool.

A couple of uses have been identified for this tool.

  • Engravers would use the tool to dab onto copper printing plates, making the fine tones they were attempting to create easier to see.


  • Printers would use the tool to smooth colour onto the hot copper printing plates.


  • One of a set of engraving tools once owned by local engraver, Mr Harry S Millward of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

    Taken from the Gladstone Pottery Museum Tools Collection.

    This object is now part of the collections at Stoke-on-Trent Museums.

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    Creators: Potteries Museum and Art Gallery - Creator

    Donor ref:(110/16345)

    Source: Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

    Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.