Shears, Poultry
Shears, Poultry
Shears, Poultry

Shears, Poultry

Object number2017.140.5
OriginWest Germany
MediumMetal
Credit LineGift of Cassandra Vivian
DescriptionChrome metal poultry shears. Curved blades. Telescopic spring. Proper left blade is serrated and has arched cut-out notch at base. Handles have textured diamond grip and lock together at base with swinging clasp.DimensionsLength x Width x Depth (Closed): 9.438 × 1.813 × 0.688 in. (24 × 4.6 × 1.7 cm)
Length x Width x Depth (Open): 8.875 × 5.75 × 0.688 in. (22.5 × 14.6 × 1.7 cm)
Marks"WEST GERMANY" engraved on proper left side on curved section at center of shears (at top of handle).
Historical NotesPoultry shears used by Nazzareno Parigi. According to donor Cassandra Vivian, the shears were used by Nazzareno, as it was his responsibilty to butcher the family's chickens. This is contrary to the custom of women doing this work in Tuscan (and other Italian) families. These poultry shears are typical of what would have been used in the kitchen to prepare traditional Tuscan meals. Part of a collection related to the Parigi family of Monessen. Italian immigrants Nazzareno Parigi and Carolina Paggini Parigi emigrated from Quarata in the Tuscan countryside of Italy in the early 20th century. While many Tuscan immigrants settled within the city of Pittsburgh and worked in the restaurant industry, the Parigi’s immigrated to rural Westmoreland County, and Nazzareno worked as a laborer for the Pittsburgh Steel Company.
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