Antique Mother of Pearl Stiletto / Awl * French * Circa 1820

Description

Antique Mother of Pearl Stiletto / Awl
French * Circa 1820
This sweet little antique stiletto is all mother of pearl with a diagonally carved handle and a vase like finial at the top.
I
t measures almost 3" long and the mother of pearl is unusually luminous. There is a crack that has been repaired right below the handle, but it's not very noticeable and the condition is otherwise very nice.
Stilettos had a variety of uses including unpicking stitches and creating eyelet holes in fabric that were then embroidered around in a technique called Broderie Anglais.
They were also used to transfer design outlines to fabric, pricking paper patterns along the lines and then rubbing them with a pounce pad or colored chalk powder.
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