Signs of Use

Examples of wear and tear give a sense of how an object was used, which then helps build a picture of what it was used for.

Think about:

Sign of wear:

  • Corrosion
  • Scratching
  • Rubbing plating or finishes off
  • Indentation
  • Alteration of original form

What was the source of the wear?

  • Impact (eg. tools)
  • Maintenance (eg. sharpening)
  • Environment
  • Attachments
  • Handling
  • Secondary uses (eg. Biscuit tins later used to store screws and nails)