Name 1
CARPENTER'S AXE 2
Name 2
/
ID number
002.340.Idrija
Manager / Administrator
Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Center, Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Republic of Slovenia
Local / Original ID Number
/
Type of Object
Mine
Description
Short description
The axe consists of a elliptical handle and a shock cast iron part, the sharp part of which is adapted for setting the substructures.
Measures
Length 100 cm, width 5 cm, height 7.5 cm.
Materials
Wood, cast iron.
Dating
Podatek o času nastanka ni znan.
Author / Producer
Podatek o proizvajalcu ni znan.
Picture attachments
Original use
The carpenter’s axe was used at the worksites of the Idrija Mercury Mine. Due to its narrow, sharp tip, it was particularly suitable for chiselling or more detailed design of wooden supports. First, the excavators protected the ceiling at the worksite. In soft rocks, the roof frame (cimpr) was installed very densely, elsewhere on 0.8 metre, so that there were no rock falls. Cimpr consisted of round logs: prop (štempl) and ceiling joist (rigl). Axes and hand saws of different kinds and heavier hammers were used in this work. Most tunnels in the Idrija Mercury Mine are supported with wood (square, polygonal or trapezoid), more important entrance passages were lined, however, in places where the rock was strongly crushed, the steel supports were used in the last period. Tunnels, excavated in the solid rock, needed no support. The roof frame was made mostly from fir wood, which creaked when under high pressure and that warned the miners of danger. For the installation of the roof frames and their constant maintenance and also for ore smelting, the mine needed huge quantities of wood, which was cut down in the surroundings of Idrija.
Present use
The carpenter’s axe is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the CUDHg mining collection. Visitors can view it within the permanent museum display Anthony's Main Road. The tool is part of the presentation which represents the way of supporting pit tunnels and shafts.
Original location
Idrija Mercury Mine (Working at the mining field).
Present location
Anthony’s Main Road, Kosovelova 3, SI-5280 Idrija
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The carpenter’s axe is well preserved. Therefore, no additional interventions are necessary. Security of the premises is ensured.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- CUDHg Inventory Book.
Submitted
Mestni muzej Idrija
Submitted by
Miha Kosmač
Date Submitted
15. 3. 2018
Date Edited
Never