Title

Carved Wooden Mangel Board

Creation Date

1766

Count

1

Description

A carved wooden mangel board.  The mangle has a brass eye hook at the top.  Carved into its face, from top to bottom: A flower with a cross centered in its petals, a round knob, a section with a repeating scroll pattern, a circle around six petals, a raised handle with the scroll pattern repeated, and a second circle around six petals.  Carved into the board beneath the raised handle: “1766” and “A O B”.  A mangel board played a crucial role in courtship rituals in Sweden and Norway.  If a young woman accepted a mangel board from a young man, the couple would be in a formal courtship.  If a mangel board was rejected, the young man would have to make a new one for the next lady he pursued.  Hence the expression: “Beware the man with many mangel boards.”