CHARMING FRENCH SEWING NECESSAIRE * FIVE SILVER TOOLS * BURL WOOD BOX * C1880 *

Description

A charming antique sewing set in a burl wood box.
The oval box is made of burl wood, the lid inlaid with a brass cartouche that is still vacant. The box, 12,3 cm. long, 7,5 cm. wide, 1,5 cm high, is lined with blue velvet, the lid with blue moire silk, trimmed by a blue silk cord.
The box has a sturdy brass hinge and a brass push button closure in good working order. The sides feature small openings when closed, due to warping of the wood that has stood the test of time for 140 years. The wood is in good condition, just a few scratches, but without chips or other damage.
This case contains five antique hallmarked sewing tools. Most of them are a replacement.
The ornate embossed needle case is original to this box. It is 6,4 cm. long and it is in very good condition. It has a makers mark, difficult to decipher and the boars head for French silver.
Over the years I have carefully collected all other tools, to fit the spaces. They go together very well: a thimble with gilded border, a gilded stiletto, a silver bodkin and a pair of scissors. All items are made of silver. All tools, except for the bodkin, are hallmarked with the French boars head.
The thimble is 23 mm. high, 16 mm. wide. The weight is 4,5 grams. The applied scalloped border with vacant cartouche is beautifully gilded. The thimble is in excellent condition, without holes, damage or other wear.
The scissors are 8,9 mm. long. They don't close to their tips. They are still sharp. The handles have very elegant decorations and their condition is perfect. They are made by a French silversmith, whose mark is stamped on the handles: a mirror or a spoon between the letters L and most likely P. So these could be made by the famous silversmith Pierre Lenain who worked in Paris.
The stiletto is 7,5 cm. long. It has a gilded finial, matching the scallops of the thimble.
A similar sewing set can be seen in the book by Bridget McConnel,
Antique Needlework Tools
, page 96.
My next listing will start November 18th. I will list enamelled thimble in tradtional Christmas colors.
The price for shipment by the Dutch post worldwide, outside Europe, includes track&trace, with "adult signature required" and insurance. That price is 27 $.
Shipment within Europe with track&trace, with "adult signature required" and insurance is 17 $.