Pricking iron (4)

Pricking iron or chisel used by a stonemason.  It has a curved blade with a scalloped or comb edge, and a very short squared shaft with chamferred corners.  The end of the chisel shows signs of frequent use as the edge is well worn and curved over.   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.