Mystery -- mark of scissors on old desk

by Kellie
(Maryland)

We have a library desk that we were told was made around 1915. It has a dark mark on the desktop (lower right) in the shape of scissors. They look like sewing scissors to me.

When we visited the furniture collection at Winterthur a few years ago, I noticed a similar mark on one of their desks. The docent didn't know anything about it.

Has anyone here run into this? Any idea how the mark could have gotten there?

Thanks!
Kellie

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Mystery -- mark of scissors on old desk

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oak
by: JeffG

The wood looks like Oak. Oak darkens (oxidizes) when in contact with iron/steel - for example see old nails nailed into oak, which leave similar dark stains. It is still surprising the scissors were unmoved long enough, and close enough, to leave such a good stain - maybe forgotten in a damp area (basement) with scissors on top for a long time sped up the process?

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