#6207                                                                                  

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Silver Etui  - This is an exceptionally pretty and very high quality sewing set.  The tools include silver scissors, thimble and needlecase, as well a beautiful cut crystal scent bottle with a silver top and its original crystal stopper.   The bodkin is missing and the thimble is probably a replacment, although a very good one.  

All of the tools are in very good condition and with the exception of the thimble, original to the set.  The leather box is showing its age.  It appears that the lid has been re- attached to the box at some time, but it is easily the best repair I have ever seen on this type of box.   It is only discernable by looking closely at the back of the box.                                                                                       $1495
                                                                                           New Price      $1150            

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#7099

Tartan Ware Thimble Case - Tartan ware  was very popular in the late 19th cen- tury as souvenirs for the wealthy to bring home from their holiday in Scotland. This piece bears the clan name of Stuart and it features a lovely little clasp.  There is a silver thimble inside which fits the thimble case very nicely.  Measuring 1 1/4" wide by 1 5/8" deep by 1 3/4" high, the thimble case is in very good condition.
                                                                                                               $285
                                                                                         New Price    $225

                                                                       #8058                                                                                  

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"The Bee Case" Avery - In the first half of the 19th century a man by the name of William Avery began selling his needles in wonderfully creative figural brass needle cases. This one depicts a very realsitic bee on a leaf, named simply "The Bee Case". His needle cases were many and varied and they were immediately collected for their charm and beauty. 

This particular avery is pictured on page 1 of the book Victorian Brass Needlecases by Estelle Horowitz and Ruth Mann. It measures 4 1/4" in length and 4 1/4" in width at its widest spot. The needle packets would have been inserted on the back of the two wings leaving the inside body to hold loose needles and pins after the packets were opened.

At some point, someone put a small hole in the top center leaf, I assume in order to hang it on a wall.  There are no other issues to the condition of the needle case, although the top of the bee feels just a bit loose as you open the case. It is however, well attached to the bottom of the case.  This avery is certainly one of the more desireable averys we know of today, due to the beauty and realism of its lovely design.

                                                                                                                               $725
                                                                                                           New Price     $595            

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#8003

18 kt. Gold Needle Case - This lovely gold needle case is both simple and elegant. It fea- tures a pattern of four dots repeat- ed from the top to the bottom of the case. The top fits snugly to the bottom, and the needle case is in good condition.
                                                                                                           $235
                                                                                       New Price   $165

                                                                       #6155                                                                                  

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Black Shagreen and Silver Etui   - This rare sharkskin etui is circa 1780 - 1800.   The black shagreen etuis are even more rare than the green ones.  This one is also very special because it has some very unusual pieces.   The tools include a two page  aide memoire with some writing on it (too faded to read, I'm afraid), scissors with silver fingerholes, silver penknife, bodkin/earspoon, stiletto (a replacement), tweezers/file, and a miniature silver compendium.  The compendium piece is extremely rare.  The third picture shows the compendium opened.   It features three reels, a thimble, a needlecase, and the stopper of the needlecase which is actually a tiny ink pen.  This is an extremely special etui.

The condition of the etui is quite good.   It is missing one very small piece. One point of the scissors has a tiny break - almost not noticable.  The sharkskin has two small missing pieces ( near the bottom.).  The silver top of the etui has a few dents on the very top and the slotted silver piece will lift off the the etui, but then it fits right back on.   That too, is not noticible unless you are looking for it.   I am being very picky and mentioning very minor problems to the condition.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      $1895
                                                                                                       New Price  $735