Antique & Vintage Sewing Accessories
Sewing Birds / Clamps / Third Hands
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.
Antique
Sewing Bird / Clamp with 4 Thread Winding Spools
This sewing bird is exceptional. Not only does it have great form,
it truly has great function---actually multi-functions---as well. Once clamped
onto the table the seamstress or needleworker could squeeze the
gracefully-shaped tail of the "bird" to open its beak and insert her handiwork.
The velvet pincushion on top would have been a place to keep her straight pins
and needles within easy reach. Four wooden spools are incorporated into
the design and would have allowed her to have several different colors of thread
wound and ready for use. There is even a sharply beveled edge on the back
side under the tail that could have been used as a thread cutter.
This sewing bird is exceptionally well made and well thought out, and probably English in origin. The clamp is affixed to the frame using a dovetailed joint. The pincushion base unscrews and removes from the frame so the cushion could be replaced if needed. The wooden spools remove by unscrewing the rods that go through their centers so they could be taken out and wound. There is fine detailing in the way of decorative knurling and in the form of the thrumbscrew. It is in remarkably good condition and is a very unusual design. It has not been cleaned but would polish up nicely if that is the look you like. One other aspect of note is that there are the Roman numerals XVIIII marked on the inside of the main bar of the clamp. Was this the 19th one the maker made? Or does it represent something else? A mystery for The Antique Detectives! Click for Pic Click for Pic Click for Pic
Very Good-Excellent ......... $795.00 SOLD!
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Antique
Steel Sewing Bird with Pincushion
Don't confuse this sewing bird with the ones that are typically seen.
This example is steel and probably English in origin and dates from the late
19th century. It is tall and graceful in form with a stylized "bird"
having an elongated beak to hold the fabric and a pincushion perched on a
shapely spindle on top. Note the charming cut-out heart design in the
thumbscrew! The velvet cushion looks to be the original. Overall
this is in very nice condition and could be polished up and shined if that is
the way you like them.
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Very Good ........ $325.00
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Vintage Brass Sewing Bird Don't confuse this sewing bird with the new ones that are typically seen on the internet or in shops these days. This is a genuine / vintage sewing bird that dates from the late 19th century. It is very nice, and has nice details.
Very Good ........ $145.00
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