General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

WOOD; 2 METAL NAILS

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

132.0 cm

Width

16.0 cm

Height

22.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Non-motorized Ground Transportation

Category

Animal powered

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Canada

State/Province

Nova Scotia

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Nova Scotia

Period

THIS YOKE USED PRIOR TO EARLY 1960S. THIS STYLE OR DESIGN BELIEVED USED C. 1870S+

Canada

STYLE OF YOKE BUILT AND USED BY FRENCH SETTLERS IN NOVA SCOTIA. HISTORICALLY, IT WAS COMMON FOR THE TEAMSTER OR A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO MAKE OX YOKES: THIS TRADITION IS STILL PRACTICED IN NS, LARGELY TO KEEP SKILLS ALIVE IN FARMING COMMUNITY. SPARE YOKES WERE PRODUCED FOR TOURISTS C. 1930S-1960S BY FARMERS/TEAMSTERS IN ORDER TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR REGULAR INCOME. THOUGH STILL MADE BY SMALL ENTREPRENEURS, YOKES ARE NO LONGER PRODUCED FOR THE TOURIST TRADE, DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF RAW MATERIALS AND LABOUR. (REF. 1)

Function

USED TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY HARNESS OXEN TO A PLOW, CART OR OTHER DEVICE, AND TO CONTROL OR DIRECT THEIR MOVEMENTS.

Technical

RATHER THAN RESTING ON THE ANIMALS' SHOULDERS, THIS STYLE OF YOKE SAT ON THE OX'S HEAD IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE HORNS. THE YOKE WASHELD IN PLACE BY TWO LEATHER STRAPS ONE OF WHICH WRAPS AROUND EACH OF THE HORNS; THE ENDS FIT INTO THE SLITS IN THE WOOD NEAR THE ENDS OF THE YOKE. (REF. 1)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"DIAMOND" and "SPARK" handpainted in black on top surface of yoke.

Missing

NONE.

Finish

YOKE PAINTED BRIGHT RED; NAMES OF OXEN PAINTED IN BLACK ON TOP SURFACE.

Decoration

N/A