This blade-edged wooden bat was used to beat partially crushed stems of flax plants to free the inner bast fibers, a process known as scutching. The loosened and smoothed fibers are then spun into linen thread.
This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is available for non-commercial research and education. For permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the East Texas Research Center at asketrc@sfasu.edu