Lanolin in Wool from Merino Sheep-Shearing, Greenfield Village, April 2010

01

Artifact Overview

The skin of Merino sheep secretes an excess of lanolin. Clumps of this protective waxy substance often remain in the fleece after shearing. A warm, soapy wash of the fleece removes lanolin, along with dirt and matted wool, before raw wool is processed into yarn or fabric.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Digital image

Subject Date

30 April 2010

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

EI.1929.657

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Technique

Digital imaging

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

02

Related Content

  • Demonstrating Blade-Shearing of Merino Sheep in Greenfield Village, April 2010
    Set

    Shearing the Merino Sheep of Firestone Farm

    • 25 Artifacts
    Heavy coats of fine wool made Merino sheep a popular breed among nineteenth-century wool producers. Every spring, shearers carefully navigated blade shears to remove each sheep's thick fleece -- a process that could take several hours. More than a century later, presenters demonstrate this labor-intensive blade-shearing process at Firestone Farm in Greenfield Village.
  • Wrinkly Merino Sheep at Firestone Farm
    article

    Shearing Our Wrinkly Merino Sheep at Firestone Farm (with Video)

      During your April or May visit to Greenfield Village, you just might catch our farmers shearing our special wrinkly Merino sheep with the same technology used in 1885. Check out this preview.
    • Merino Sheep in Greenfield Village
      article

      The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation: Merino Sheep

        On this week’s episode of The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation, you’ll learn about Merino sheep. These resources will help you learn even more.