Saturday Spotlight! Volume 1:
Antique Needle Cases
What are antique needle cases and why might they be different from those little 
plastic things that are glued to cardboard and have twisty spinny sides out of which you can dump a sewing needle? Well, thank you for asking. (You didn't ask?? Well, if you are still reading it was an implied request for more information. ) Needlecases have been around since the Viking times....maybe longer but we'll start there. Needles were and are still an important domestic tool. To protect this magical little item and keep from having them strewn about willy nilly....cause that could be dangerous (imagine a big ole Viking with a needle stuck in the bottom of his foot cause his wife didn't put them away properly) needle cases were invented. Needle cases come in the most basic forms
from a simple small canister with a lid, to a piece of cardboard and foil holder to elaborately carved 
bone and ivory cases to delicate porcelain cases, cases made from precious metals and even whimsical cases. Today the our needle cases are plastic and easily disposable but in days gone bye needle cases much like many other household tools were a work of art. We'd like to share some of our favorites with you and welcome your own posts sharing your favorites. So here we go.....
Pictured to the left is a sample of a Viking 
needle case which would have been worn attached to a woman's clothing. Needles during that time period would have been an expensive household item so all joking aside about the Viking with a needle in his foot, needle cases were meant to protect needles. Today needle cases range in value from $5-$1000 depending on their rarity and materials.
Some of our favorite needle cases are the whimsical cases pictured below.
The cases can all be found on RubyLane.Com Keyword: Needle Case
These cases are works of art
These cases are called figural cases some of these can be elaborate as well as whimsical
No comments:
Post a Comment