Pricking iron (1)

Pricking iron or chisel used by a stonemason.  It has a broad blade with a scalloped or comb edge, and squared shaft with chamferred corners.  The end of the chisel shows little sign of wear.   Stone was worked using a range of tools including saws and chisels.  Stone mason's tools have changed very little over the centuries.  Finer shaping and detail was worked by striking chisels like this with a large wooden mallet.