Stiletto or bodkin of turned bone, fitted in a conical basket-weave holder or sheath.
Stiletto (A) has ball-shaped head with hole in it, then narrowing to a neck with additional swells and narrowing until it tapers from midsection down to a sharp point.
Holder (B) is an elongated cone made with a brown reed-like material woven onto ribs like a basket. Handle is a twisted form of the same material, shaped in a double loop configuration.
It is assumed that this pair of otems were originally dwsigned for each other.
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.
Bodkin of steel is a blunt needle used for threading ribbons or other fabric through casings, loops, etc.
Two thin pieces of tapered steel are laminated together through half their length at narrow end. Two pieces at wider end are separated, allowing a ribbon or other material to be fitted into "jaws" and clamped in place via a sliding mechanism fitted into slot that extends lenthwise toward jaws. Inside of jaw ends have 3 pairs of raised barbs or teeth that enable the jaws to hold material without slipping.
Stamped on one side at midsection is "THE DOT." This likely refers to the rounded sliding mechanism fitted in the slot.
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.
Bodkin of steel is a blunt needle used for threading ribbons, tape or other fabric through casings, loops, etc.
Bodkin is two thin pieces of tapered steel that are laminated together through half their length at narrow end. Two pieces at wider end are separated, allowing a ribbon or other material to be fitted into "jaws" and clamped in place via a sliding mechanism fitted into slot that extends lenthwise toward jaws. Jaws are enabled to hold material without slipping via two raised beads stamped into one side and two matching holes on other side.
Stamped onto one side of tool at midsection is "PATD. MAR. 29. 92."
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.
Ribbon threader or bodkin is a blade of nickel-plated non-ferrous metal, in a torpedo shape, wide and rounded at one end and tapering to a point at other end. Two slots are cut in wide end for stringing ribbon that needs to be threaded through casings in waistbands, wristbands, etc.
Stamped inscriptions: On one side of tool is "RIBBON THEADER", "REGISTERED", "No. 3", AND "K.B.C.".
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 case of turned hardwood (maple?). Cylindrical body was turned in two pieces and strong chamfers at each blunt ends. Center band of glossy black with three scored lines at midpoint. Ends also painted black with a score line on each. Additional daubs of black paint on unpainted body.
Cylinder is hollow for holding needles. One third of body pulls off like a cap, sliding off a male extension of the 2/3 section. No contents.
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 case of cast silver is a square-bodied long container that tapers from one end to the other. Made of 2 pieces, the thickest end is the cap that fits on a male extension of the main body. The length of each side of case is constructed of identical cast pieces of silver with a soldered seam still visible.
Decorated with low-relief roses on cap; grapevine and football shape are on main body. Small panels on narrower sides have a slogan in German: "ZUM / ANDENKEN / KEINE ROSEN / OHNE DORNEN" which translates as a warning to not prick one's self with the needle. Literally, it states "Remember (there are) no roses without thorns."
Possibly Germany
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 case with needle threader, two pieces, a long metal tubular case of bronzed metal. Most of the object is the hollow tubular handle, 2.75" in length, with one rounded end and male-shaped "cap" fitting into opposite end. Handle has bery fine ribs running lengthwise on exterior. Cap end is very short with a smooth exterior. It has one rounded end while opposite end - that fits into handle - is fitted with a fine wire loop used to thread needles. The loop is mounted into red-painted wood which is in turn set into cap's hollow end. To use tool, cap is removed, reversed end for end, and reinserted into hollow handle.
On side of cap is stamped "GERMANY."
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.
Thimble case of non-ferrous metal cast in shape of a walnut. Identical halves of walnut are hinged at one end and fitted with a clasp at other. Hollow interior is furnished with pink satin lining with concavity in one half for holding a thimble (missing). Hanging ring soldered to clasp end.
Inked calligraphic label reads: "THIMBLE CASE /made 1902" on one side and "Presented by: / S. Cecilia Sener" on other.
Provenance
Donor is stated to be S. (Sarah) Cecilia Sener, a single woman who was a dressmaker, cigarmaker, etc. in Lancaster, PA. She lived Jan 13, 1856 - Feb 11, 1936, is buried in Lancaster Cemetery and last living at 138 N. Water St.
A) Pair of scissors 4.5" x 1.75", plain with serpentine "legs" connecting blades to oval finger rings.
B) Belt clip formed with artfully coiled wire, silver?, has two light chains attached via small rings. Ring-shaped hooks at other ends. Overall length is 14".
Spherical pincushion of small pieced woolen patches of solid brown, blue, red and black. Large black triangles alternate with blocks of a 4-patch diamond on a red square. Four-patch is blue and light brown. Decorated with off-white silk ribbon 1/4' wide, encircling the ball several times. A tassel of 0.5" wide ribbon at one side. Soft cotton stuffing.
Old paper note written in small script is stitched to pincushion. It reads: "Presented to / Mary N Hostetter / by her / Grandmother / Nissley in 1872".
Attributed to Elizabeth Kraybill Nissley (1812-1894).
Provenance
Research: Mary N. Hostetter (6 Oct 1864 - 20 Mar 1932) married Joseph H. Habecker and lived in Mount Joy area. Parents were Jonas E. Hostetter and Barbara Nissley of Mt. Joy area. Nissley grandparents were Elizabeth Kraybill Nissley (1812-1894) and Jacob Kraybill Nissley.
Grandmother Elizabeth Kraybill Nissley gave the pincushion to Mary in 1872 when she was 8 yrs. old and grandmother was 60.
