Meeker's
Mechanical
Nature Antiques
Larry and Carole
Meeker

Purveyors of Americana
Patented & Mechanical Antiques
www.Patented-Antiques.com

LCM@Patented-Antiques.com

530-620-7019


Needle & Thread Related Antiques

Most of the sewing related antiques you will find on this and our other Sewing Accessories pages originated from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, and were part two large and diverse antique sewing collections we are handling on consignment.  This is the first time most of these pieces have been out on the market in many years.



Needle HolderUmbrella Shaped Needle Holders   These figural needle holders date from the 19th Century.  The one on top has a wooden body with ivory fittings.

The bottom one in the photo is all ivory and a bit more slender in form.  The stanhope insert is missing.  Both are carved with great detail and skill.

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VM-ncase-umb1           VM-ncase-umb2

Excellent . . . . .  $165.00 / each

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Ivory Needle HolderFabulous Figural "Pea Pod" Ivory Needle Cases   These 19th Century needlecases are exquisite and incredibly realistic in form.  These are the caliber of pieces that you only find in longtime collections.  I have never seen anything quite as nice, and imagine the love and thought that the maker expressed both in the making and the giving.

The pod on top has a perfectly shaped tip.           VM-ncase-pod1

The pod on bottom has a wonderful stem.           VM-ncase-pod2    
SOLD!

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Excellent......... $250.00 each

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Ivory Needle / Bodkin CasesCarved Ivory Needle / Bodkin Cases   The case on the left has a series of carved rings and measures about 3 1/4".  It looks large enough inside to be a holder for narrow bodkins as well as traditional needles.  It has two small cracks in the cap.     VM-ncase-ring1

The case on the right has a different carving pattern of concentric rings and bands.  It measures about 4" in length.  It is missing its stanhope.             VM-ncase-ring2

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Very Good......... $65.00 each     

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Antique Bone / Ivory Needle Holders4 Different Antique Bone / Ivory Needle Holders   I can't be sure if the one on the far left is bone or ivory.  It is a very elegant 4" tall form, and made to stand.  There is a hairline crack in the top that does not appear to go all the way through.       VM-ncase-41

The second one is dumbbell shaped and opens on one end.      VM-ncase-42

Next is an ivory case trimmed with a silver or nickel plated metal cap at each end and ring around the threaded end.       VM-ncase-43

The case on the right is a nicely carved and shaped needle holder that measures about 2 3/4
".        VM-ncase-44    SOLD!

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Very Good......... $35.00 each     

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Carved Ivory and Gold Inlaid Needle CaseLarge Carved Ivory and Gold Inlaid Needle Case   On the left is one of the most beautiful needle cases I have ever seen.  A fabulous 3 1/2" long rectangular piece, it is inlaid in a decorative pattern with tiny round gold metal circles, though some are missing.  It is monogrammed with two initials and topped with a carved basket of fruit.      VM-ncase-g

Round Heavily Carved Needle Case   On the right is another nice ivory needle holding case.  The carving has an Oriental feel on this one, and inside the top it looks to be signed although I can't actually make out the initials or mark.      VM-ncase-ortl

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Inlaid .........Very Good  ....... $425.00

Oriental .........Very Good  .......$75.00

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Antique Needle Cases3 Carved Coquilla Nut "Vegetable Ivory" Antique Needle Cases   All three of these cases are really lovely.  The light colored case on the left, large enough to house needles or small bodkins, opens at both ends.      VM-ncase-veg1

In the middle is an acorn-inspired design that is symmetrical and incredibly realistic. It also opens at both ends.       VM-ncase-veg2

On the right is a nicely carved case that will hold a substantial number of needles or even several smaller bodkins.  It is made to stand upright.  There is a bit of minor damage in the way of flaking to the base that is hardly noticeable.      VM-ncase-veg3

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Very Good  ....... $125.00 each

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Wooden Needle Holders2 Wooden Needle Holders   On the left is a 4" wooden needle holder that is heavily carved with a pattern of grape leaves and bunches of grapes, in very high relief.  It is carved in the style of Black Forest wood carvings and is in very nice condition overall.     VM-ncase-wd1

On the right is a much more simple design of a wooden case.  A beautiful and delicate piece, but the interesting fact is that it looks like it was not quite finished as the inside of the narrow end is not carved out.
      VM-ncase-wd1

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Left ......Very Good......... $150.00

Right ......Very Good......... $25.00

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English Wire Bound Needle Case19th Century English Wire Bound Needle Case   This is a very unique needlecase.  The case itself is brass and it is painstakingly decorated with twisted brass wire and tiny chain---a very intricate design!

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Very Good......... $75.00

VM-needlecase-1

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Victorian Needle Case2 Early Unusual Victorian Needle Cases   These are two very unusual Victorian needlecases. 

The one on the left is made of quill and intricately wrapped with very fine wire, with blue tasseled ends.
      VM-needlecase-Q

The needle and / or bodkin case on the right is comprised of green, black, white, and red beads over an ivory core.       VM-needlecase-B

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Good......... $175.00 each     

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Silver Needle Case5 Silver Needle Cases   These are all very nice with the two on either end being particularly unusual and heavier weight.  The case on the far left has a square bottom that acts as a base to allow the case to stand upright.  It is highly ornamental.  The case on the far right has a thread winder top, and probably originally had a cap that screwed on to it.  This one is quite rare.

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From Left to Right:

#1 .......Good......... $200.00     VM-s-ncase-1     SOLD!

#2 #3 #4 .......Good......... $75.00 / Each     VM-s-ncase-2, 3, 4,

#5 .......Good......... $200.00     VM-s-ncase-5     SOLD

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Brass and Gold Wash Needle Case5 Brass and Gold Wash Needle Cases   Each of these needle cases are very different and very lovely.

The case on the top is turned brass and has good weight to it.  Both ends unscrew and it can hold bodkins as well as needles.

Along the bottom row is a heavily embossed needle / bodkin holder in gold wash, with a small gold wash bodkin inside.

Then a small gold needlecase, probably French.

Next is a heavy, long, decorated needle / bodkin holder in gold wash.  It has a beautiful patina.  If you are interested in this one please ask me for better and more detailed pictures so you can see how lovely it really is.

And finally a simple and functional long needle holder in brass.

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Top ...... Good ..... $45.00     VM-br-ncase-1

Bottom From Left to Right:

#1 .......Good......... $85.00     VM-gw-ncase-1

#2 .......Good......... $150.00     VM-gw-ncase-2     SOLD!

#3 .......Good......... $125.00     VM-gw-ncase-3

#4 .......Good......... $15.00     VM-br-ncase-2

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Carved Wooden Needlebooks2 Carved Wooden Needlebooks   These miniature wooden needlebooks look to be handcarved.  I don't read German but the word carved on the front of both is "Villingen".  The insides are a silk type material, one in blue and the other in red and with a red velvet "binding".  The front and back of the blue one have become separated and could use some restoration.  There must have originally been three of these as the collectors notation on them says "set 3", but there are only two.  They are very sweet!   

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Good......... $45.00 for the pair

KR-carved-nbook

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Stenciled Lacquered NeedlebookStenciled  Lacquered Wooden Needlebook   The front and back covers of this needlebook are wood, with multi-toned stenciled fern leaf designs and a lacquer finish.  The tag on the front, which is partly missing, reads "Arthur James Needles and J.R. Clark Junr & Co's Spool Cotton Give Perfect Satisfaction."  Though the "binding" and the felt "pages" are tattered it is a very well-made piece, with a scalloped edge interior edge set up with a numbering system to organize needles according to size.  Very unusual!   

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Good......... $55.00

KR-leaf-nbook

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Needle Pouch with American Indian BeadworkFabric Needle Pouch with American Indian Beadwork   This needle case is made of old black fabric and beautifully covered with North American Indian beadwork.  The back, which I didn't provide you with a picture of, is even more ornately beaded than the front.  Email me for a picture.  Though there is some wear to the fabric and some missing beads on the edges it is a really fine piece.

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Good-......... $150.00

VM-bd-ncase

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Needle Case and Tape MeasureHand-Sewn Silk Needle Case and Tape Measure   This little rolled "case" is handmade from yellow silk and what I guess is muslin fabric where the needles are held.  It is decorated with assorted embroidery stitches and each of the sections is numbered for the size of the needles to be placed there.  There is a pillow shaped pincushion in one end and a compartment at the other that houses an incredibly charming handmade pink silk tape measure, using what appears to be some sort of fabric paint to mark out the increments.  It is quite fragile and the end portion has begun to deteriorate, but the rest is still in quite good shape and with careful handling and storage will probably last another 100 or so years.

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Good-......... $22.00

VM-needlecase-2

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Wooden Transferware 
Needle Case3 Wooden Transferware Needle Cases   The wooden tube case holds crochet hooks.  The scenes on it are Ryde Pier and Something Pond, making it English in origin.

The wooden "barrel" is marked "Germany".  To remove the needles you simply rotate the top so that the arrow lines up with the appropriate numbered needle that you want to fetch out.  It still retains it's original paper label from Gimbles, a department store in NYC.

The mushroom shaped one is a combination needle case and darner.  Amazingly and fortunately it was never used as a darner, which would have marred the fabulous transferware scene.  Typically it is English scenes that are depicted, but this is "The Summit House, Wachusett Mountain, Princeton, Mass.  2018 Feet Above Sea Level".  On the back side it is marked "Scotland".  It is extremely rare to find American scenes on these typically English and European "souvenir" pieces.  A great one!

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VM-tsfwr-1         VM-tsfwr-2         VM-tsfwr-3

Left ...Very Good......... $25.00     SOLD!

Middle ...Very Good......... $55.00

Right ...Very Good......... $95.00

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Bone Antique Knitting Needle GuardsCarved Ivory / Bone Antique Knitting Needle Guards   The whimsical pair on the left look to be ivory and are carved in the shape of hooves.     VM-knit-1

The pair on the right are probably bone, and although not figural are carved in great and meticulous detail.  They still retain their original ribbon.      VM-knit-2

Very Good ......... $85.00 each

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Ivory Knitting Needle SheathRare Ivory Knitting Needle Sheath   On the right is an unusual piece that I was not familiar with.  Gay Ann Rogers describes knitting needle sheaths as "curious implements whose.....function is not to act as a case for knitting needles but to make knitting more efficient."  Apparently one would tuck the sheath into one's waistband and use it to support the bottom of the knitting needle in order to free up that hand.  This example is heavily carved.  There is a little damage at one end and it appears to be missing an end cap as well, but it's rarity overshadows those apologies.        VM-knit-3        

Carved Ivory Pen Holder / Wax Seal / Stanhope   On the left is a neat piece as well.  Not sewing related but certainly something that would have been used by women of the same status.  It is heavily and intricately carved ivory that houses a pen nib.  There is an intact stanhope with 4 different scenes of Niagara Falls at the far end that is topped off with little cross-hatched sealing wax stamp.  There was apparently something else in the way of an end cap or stand that is missing from the bottom.        VM-pen-1

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Good ......... $195.00 each     

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Knitting Needle SheathKnitting Sheath Made of Carved Wood, Signed   This rare piece is a carved wooden knitting sheath, used in one's waistband to support the bottom of a knitting needle.  It is probably English dating from the 18th century, and I believe it to be hand-made.  It is "folky" in appearance with a decorative tri-color wood inlay.  There is a pewter inset inscribed with the initials "A.J."  Sewing tools like this were often made and given as presents from a suitor to his betrothed, so the initials could be those of the maker or of the receiver.  Unusual!      

VM-knit-4

Good ......... $195.00     

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Antique Thread Waxers3 Antique Thread Waxers   The mother-of-pearl thread waxer in the center top of the photo still has the wax intact.  The one on the left is also mother-of-pearl and very decorative with a daisy-like floral design.  The waxer on the right looks just like a little pumpkin.               

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Very Good ......... $35.00 each    top one SOLD!  Other two AVAILABLE

VM-waxers-1

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Antique Bone / Ivory Thread Winders8 Antique Bone / Ivory Thread Winders   When do you ever find these any more?  The snowflakes have different flowers in their centers.  All are in very, very good condition---use them (carefully) or display them.                             

2 Snowflakes........Very Good  .......... $40.00 each     SOLD!

3 Pillow Shaped ........Very Good  .......... $15.00 each     VM-winders1     Available

1 Cross Shape........Very Good  .......... $20.00    SOLD!

1 Quadruple........Very Good  .......... $50.00     SOLD!

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Figural Thread Winder / Needle HolderCelluloid Figural Thread Winder / Needle Holder   This ingenious piece is a combination 5-spool thread winder and needle case.  It looks to be made of celluloid.  Not only can you pull the spools out of the case, but the pointed top pulls off as well so that needles can be stored inside.  There is patent information marked on the end.

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Excellent  .......... $30.00

EJ-1669

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Thread Winder / Needle HolderMulti Thread Winder / Needle Holder   This is the insert of a combination 5-spool thread winder and needle case like the complete one above.  As with the one above the pointed top pulls out so that needles can be stored inside.  There is patent information is also marked on the end.  (The extra waxed thread is included.)

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Excellent  .......... $10.00

VM-thread-1

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We can help you sell your quality Antiques in this and other categories of Antiques.

If you have similar antiques or collectibles you want to sell please see our
FAQ Page, the Appraisal / Selling Page, and the Selling Your Collection Pages for further info about selling with us.

To view examples of the types of antiques and collectibles we have previously sold and are always interested in helping you sell please visit our Past Sales Archive Pages at our sister website www.AntiqBuyer.com.




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(1998 - 2009)
Larry & Carole Meeker