posted on October 3, 2004 12:13:43 AM new
Sorry, I just have to share my excitement with someone!
I found this today and I think it is going to have to be a keeper. Anyone else seen anything like it before??
From the looks of the wood, I think it is oak and most likely English. Looks very similar to some antique knife boxes I have.
The top drawers are metal and have the cutest hand made handles. The bottom main handle is pressed brass, very English looking. The workplace on the top holds spools of sewing thread and bobbins. I think the wooden spindles are for crocheting thread and even have a copper wire loop to keep your thread untangled as you work. The box rotates on a 4 legged stand.
It is all finished off with a wooden disk that supports an ancient pin cushion filled with sawdust and covered with a green crocheted top. There is a copper band that slips down over the doily to hold it in place. There is also a spring loaded copper "handle" that releases the pin cushion so you can mount your bobbins and thread spools on the dowels underneath.
The box is about 9.52" square and 12" tall. Bottom of stand to top of pin cushion 17".
I love it, love it , love it! So, has anyone else ever seen something like this?
***That's too weird, I don't use the Vendio watermark, but it is showing on the pics I uploaded tonight. Whatz up with that??*****
[ edited by ltray on Oct 3, 2004 12:16 AM ]
posted on October 3, 2004 04:15:48 AM new
That is a great sewing caddy! I love it, too. So ... you're keeping it? I think there is a specific name for it, but I haven't had enough coffee yet this morning to remember it. I think it's a wierd name, sounds like a child's toy. Ah, well - I'm sure someone will come along with all the right information. Great find, congrats!
posted on October 3, 2004 04:37:48 AM new
WOW! I haven't seen anything like that since my Great Grandmother passed away. Hers was a lot like that, only it didn't have the fancy legs. Oh, one thing I was told by her was that the pin cushion was supposed to be "filled with a mixture of saw dust and fine sand to keep the needles sharp and polished". Funny, the things you remember just because of a picture.
Kevin
posted on October 3, 2004 10:18:37 AM new
Sorry Mum, I have to keep it at least for a while. It has been ages since I found something unique enough to keep.
Sewing Caddy, had not thought of that, kept calling it a stand. I hope you can remember that other word you were thinking of.
And yes Kev, there should be sand in there too. I didn't open up the bag, just assumed from the age and texture that it had to be filled with sawdust.
Even my 80 year old M-I-L drooled over this one when she saw it and she thinks I'm just a junk hound, lol.
posted on October 3, 2004 11:06:57 AM new
Wow, that is Some Find!
Suddenly as I was looking at the pictures, the word "thimblejig" popped into my mind. I don't suppose that's what it's called???? but I thought I'd mention it.
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Andy Rooney on Vegetarians: Vegetarian - that's an old Indian word meaning "lousy hunter".
posted on October 3, 2004 02:31:47 PM new
Funky!
I wonder what those little pegs and metal squares are at the edge.
Must be for a purpose other than just holding thread.
Most interesting!
What a cool find! I would love to give it to my mom, she taught me how to sew when I was 13. In 8th grade I made my entire wardrobe, except my jeans.
Now it's a computerized machine that does it all, but that ol' Elna of hers could crank!!!
Thanks for posting it!
~~~~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~~~~
Avatar wish list....
posted on October 3, 2004 04:32:42 PM new
Roadie, I googled thimblejig, thimble jig, even thimble gig but could not find anything.
Thimble jig sounded good though...
Been googling all day and have found nothing even close. This maybe a custom job. I have seen things similar a long time ago, but they must be in private places now.
Japerton, you can use the main spool as a yarn winder if the bobbins are removed. The hoops are to keep your yarn or thread from knotting. The larger wooden pegs are about the right size for the old tubes of fine crochet thread.
I've looked inside, outside, underneath and can find no identifiable markings. This is going to find a happy home on top of my antique sewing machine.
Thanks for all of your imputs. today I've looked at sewing caddies, cabinets,stands,boxes and even thinble jigs <g>.
posted on October 3, 2004 04:46:53 PM new
ltray: I'm sure you've already done this, but make sure you've also looked for maker's mark on the bottom of each drawer (outside) and the back (outside).
posted on October 4, 2004 02:24:47 AM new
'Morning ... well, my poor old brain was squeaking and rumbling all day yesterday with your sewing caddy in mind. I'm still not sure, but "nid-noddy" comes to mind. My hubby thought I had finally snapped when I said it out loud on the way to Wal-Mart!
posted on October 4, 2004 02:52:16 AM new
You could be warm Mum, the only noddys I can find are from England. They look like little elves. Maybe I have a "special" sewing caddy. I think I go looking for Noddys.
The caddy is part niddy noddy because you can use the spool holder to wind your yarn.
Come to think of it, I have an antique iron noddy buried in my garage somewhere. I did not know what it was. Just another one of those interesting things I bought, years ago...
[ edited by ltray on Oct 4, 2004 03:10 AM ]
posted on October 4, 2004 05:00:36 AM new
Oh, the elvish Noddy - he's a very popular character in Brit kids' books. I'm from the U.K. originally, and I used to read Noddy's adventures to them when they were toddlers (about 100 years ago). Well, I was partially right, huh? Right now, I'm on a quest to find the pattern name of an unmarked sterling ladle - I'm really straining my brain lately! I'll see if I can get a pic posted on the board later.
I am learning so much about all those little do-dads I have found in sewing baskets over the years. I am also see how important keywords and categories are. This box looks to be antique victorian eastlake. Wonder why she listed under vintage? That mistake probably cost her a few hundred $$
posted on October 4, 2004 09:08:05 AM new
Wow - I would think they would bring more money than that.
ltray - your's looks older than most of what glassgrl posted and I'd keep it before I'd let it go for that kind of price.
posted on October 4, 2004 09:30:24 AM new
Mum, they sure did. Off Ebay this would be about $350.
LadyJ, GG's examples were not that old. Maybe 30 to 50 years. The piece I have is between 100 to 120 years old. I'm guess off Ebay it should be worth $150 to $200, but I'm not selling for now. It is even more fun for me because I only gave $5 for it.
posted on October 4, 2004 01:08:08 PM new
I really like it! Is it just me or do those feet look a little different (newer) than the body. (Don't mind me, I'm a sewing-idiot and a furniture-idot too.) I was just wondering. I'm trying to develop a more critical eye for this sort of thing...so maybe I'm overdoing it. Still, I really the piece. Nice find!
posted on October 5, 2004 03:43:57 AM new
Jvj, the feet are original and amazingly heavy. The wood on the feet is 3/4 inches thick and the wood on the cabinet itself is 1/2 inch thick, that is not unusual on English pieces, perhaps I should even say English/ Irish/ Scot because something about this piece makes me want to think it might be Irish. Their work is very similar to English. The style of manufacture on this piece would date it to around 1880 to early 1900's.
The main drawer front is hand mortised, so it is either an earlier piece or possibly even a craftman piece versus mass produced which became more popular after the Industrial revolution of the 1880's.
posted on October 5, 2004 07:15:53 AM new
Itray, thanks for not being offended. I really like the piece. If you ever do decide to let it go, please let us know when you list it. It is quite charming.
Still, I really the piece. Nice find!