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.
Round, flat pincushion with beadwork top and bottom, done on a black felt ground. One side has a 6-petal green flower centered within 2 concentric bands, 1 red and 1 blue, with white edging. Opposite side has a centered 4-petal pink & green flower with repeating conforming lines within two bands, 1 red and 1 blue, with white edging. Pink silk, 0.5" wide, encircles outer sides of pincushion. Stuffed with white wool.