Antique Vegetable Ivory Windmill Pin Cushion/Thimble Case & Tape Measure * C1890

Description

Antique
Vegetable Ivory Windmill Pin Cushion
/ Thimble Case & Tape Measure
English
* Circa 1890s
This is the most fascinating piece of
vegetable ivory I’ve ever seen. It’s made in the form of a windmill and
incorporates a pin cushion, a tape measure and a space to hold a
thimble. I think it could be one of a kind and was perhaps made by the
carver for a child. The silk cushion is intact and original and stuck
with old pins. It unscrews in the middle and contains a child’s steel
thimble. The top is the tape measure and turning the windmill sails
winds the tape back in
(works
perfectly)
. It has the original red
silk tape, marked in inches (starts at 1″).
The top platform and the bottom have small ‘drying
flaws’. These occur when the nut material dries
out over the years.
The condition
is otherwise excellent
with no chips or damage.  It measures 4 3/4″ high and the pinwheel
base is 1 1/2″ in
diameter. The little steel thimble is is great condition with no holes
or damage. It’s about an American child’s size 3 (12 mm diameter
opening).
Vegetable
Ivory comes from the corozo nut of a South American palm tree. It has
the hardness and texture of ivory and the warm honey color appealed to
the Victorians.
The
dark spots and ivory like grain are also natural features
of this material.
I stand behind
everything that I offer and
guarantee
that it is exactly as
presented.
**
Full Insurance is included in the low shipping price for all of my
auctions. **
I accept payment through PayPal, eBay
or a check.
Join with others who
love thimbles & needlework tools
Join Thimble Collectors
International
Despite
the name, this organization is for people who collect needlework tools
And thimbles.
It’s the largest collector’s group in the world focusing on these
wonderful little pieces of history.
The
membership
benefits are outstanding. They have a convention every two years where
you’ll have a chance to attend great programs and meet others sharing
your interests.
You
will receive an excellent quarterly magazine, the “Bulletin”.
The member’s sections of the
website have dozens of
research articles, hundreds of fake and repro items to beware of and
price guides. There is also a chat room where you can ask
questions and get expert feedback about your collection. Check
them out today at thimblecollectors dot com.