A little box of treasures! Bone, Ivory, bead work, fishing, looking glass, and more!

Kevo_DFX · Oct 19, 2014

I was drinking beer over at a friend's house, and got curious about a box he had sitting on the bar. He said he bought it an auction for 5 bucks, just for the box. Inside he said there was just a bunch of "old sewing junk." I got pawed through and found a lot more than just that. I'll start with some of the more average stuff and end with a few items I could use some help with ID'ing.

An old juice harp marked "England" and a vinatge metal advertising ruler:

Are these wooden things for sewing?

An tiny old brass looking glass. The eye-piece lens is cube shaped! Any age or manufacturer

Old bead-work. The beads are glass and hexagon shaped. Native American?

Finally, these two things: Bone or Ivory? For Fishing? Age? No other ideas.

Thanks for looking!

bevbay · Oct 19, 2014

Your last photo appears to be a tatting shuttle used to make lace.

Kevo_DFX · Oct 19, 2014

Wow! Great ID bevbay! No doubt about it. Was the little odd shaped piece next to it used in lace making as well?

bevbay · Oct 19, 2014

Kevo_DFX said:
Wow! Great ID bevbay! No doubt about it. Was the little odd shaped piece next to it used in lace making as well?

Well the bottom piece looks like a bobbin that was used to wrap thread around to keep them organized. My Grandmother use to tat and I remember her using shuttles and making beautiful doilies. (In the 50s) It was fascinating! Kind of a lost art today....