Set of tatting tools, nickel silver plated steel, has four pieces. Each piece has in common the shaped and decorated portions, the handles of the three tools and the needle case body. This feature is a flattened octagonal shape in cross-section, with successive divots ground out with a round grinding wheel. Handles and case all taper along their length.
A. Needle case is 2.75" long and .375" wide. At the heavier end of case is a fitted cap that slides onto a smaller male extension protruding from main body. Seam visible along sides where both halves of case have been joined.
B. Hook on handle is 4" long and .25" wide. Tapers from handle end down to where shaft is attached. Shaft has ball-and-ring at handle, a slight swell along length and a minute hook at tip.
C. Awl is 3.625" long and .25" wide. Same handle as above. Shaft is similar in shape except heavier and shorter and has a sharp tip.
D. Threading tool(?) is 3" long and .5" long. Same handle as above. Shaft is shorter and has a large open loop in a teardrop shape.
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
Flat tin 6-pointed star pattern or template with1/2" diameter hole at center. Used for creating raised, sculpted plushwork (see Amish Arts by Patricia Herr, pp. 44-55).
Small brown leather covered wooden sewing box with compartmented interior. Leather-hinged lift lid with metal clasp at front, now detached at both clasp and hinge. Underside of lid has 3 leather strap holders, each holding a paper packet of needles. Gold-stamped mark at top center of underside is "CROSS/ LONDON".
Interior has additional fitted lid covering the front section of 3 small compartments. On top of cover are two leather loop holders. Small right rear compartment has fabric-covered padded bottom. Contents include two Bakelite? buttons, nine mother of pearl buttons, two cards of fabric covered buttons, a spool of brown thread and two early black safety pins. Each corner on bottom of box has a brass stud foot.
Very worn, particularly the exterior leather which is strongly abraded with cracks and losses at corners and edges. Leather hinge and clasp are both detached. Two dark circular stains on lid top.
Object ID
1977.007.2
Place of Origin
New York, New York
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Six-piece sewing kit, composed of a clam-shell-type, blue leather case with stamped gold trim. Case has eight sides and lid is hinged with spring activated clasp. Interior has ivory-colored velvet in bottom section and satin on lid. Bottom section has recessed cavities that conform to the shape of each of the following sewing equipment:
1. Scissors, polished steel blades, gold-plated non-ferrous metal handles, marked "NOGENT" and "34" on blades. Gold finish is worn. Length: 4" Perhaps made by Nogent in France
2. Thimble, gold finish, bottom 1/3 of sides has diamond shapes on a ground of wavy lines. Unmarked.
3. Awl or stiletto, round steel shaft set onto handle of gold-plated non-ferrous metal. Gold finish worn. Length: 3.75"
4. Crochet-type hook, round steel shaft w/ minute hook at end, set onto handle as above. Gold finish worn. Length: 3.875"
5. Flat needle/bodkin for threading ribbon, etc.; slot and adjacent hole at one end and near point at other. Gold finish worn on non-ferrous metal. Fits into elastic loop in case. Length: 2.25"
6. Needle case of gold-plated non-ferrous metal, conventional shape. Main body has 0.5"-long fitted cap. The flattened sides are stamped with a pattern of wavy lines. Length: 2" Width: 0.25" Thickness: 0.125"
Inscriptions: No marking noted on anything except for scissors, "NOGENT." Internet search reveals Nogent as a cutlery factory near the village of Nogent in NW France. Although this factory seems to have begun in 1923, the area around Nogent has been a "cradle of cutlery making" for three centuries.
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
Sewing kit, rectangular box shape consists of folding exterior of black-brown leather that wraps around an inner box of rigid leather covered sides that has a flap lid with snap closure. Inner box and outer wrap both covered with the same pliable black-brown leather with pink satin lining. Wrap has stitched compartments inside as well as three graduated size rectangular flaps of fabric for holding pins & needles. Top flap embroidered with pink floral design.
Box inside has empty interior except for a corner loop for holding a 1) thimble of non-ferrous, darkened metal (long oblique crack on side continues along nearly-flat top; flattened shape) and 2) an inexpensive ferrous metal scissors having stamped scrolls on handles.
Inscriptions: Paper label found in case w/ leather residue on reverse says "Shaker Chrome Leather." This was likely the name of the leather finish of this case.
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
Needle and thread case, heart shape. Folded paper form creating six flat sections appears to be a geometric heart when closed with top strap fitted with snap closure. Exterior covered with dark blue silk with white polka dots. Interior lined with dark blue silk. Efge embroidered with button hole stitch in red.
Interior fitted with six straps of white elastic for holding small cards of thread or pieces of fabric pierced with needles and pins. Currently holds three small color-printed cards of white, blue-green and blue thread as well as one swatch of fabric with needles and pins.
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
