Decorative ivory needlework tools were prized possessions. The style of decoration is similar to and maybe one of the Indian ivory sewing tools produced in Vizagapatam, East India Company factory.Exemplifies the hot needle decoration of madras work created in early 19th century in India and then copied in EnglandIvory tape measure holder. mushroom shape, decorated with black incised border of interlocking circles with matching central motif. Body of case is decorated with 27 parallel lines and a vertical slit to allow tape to pass. Base has a cogged edging. Top is decorated with black border of interlocking circles with matching central motif. (Hot needle decoration)tape measure, ivory

Prior to the development of standardized tape measures, tapes such as these were marked by hand. Hand carved ivory tape measure with faded blue silk ribbon hand marked. Decorative ivory spindle to rewind the tape. tape measure, ivory

No specific information is available on this item. Household items made of ivory were common in the early 20th century and were often brought back to Australia from people returning from an overseas trip. Many of these types of items came from Asia. Letter openers are still is use today.This item is of interest as an example of the use of ivory in household items early in the 20th century. This use of ivory is in the main illegal today.This is a letter opener made of ivory. It has a plain blade with a rounded highly decorated handle. The decoration consists mainly of punched holes in geometrical patterns. The top has a hole for hanging up the item. There is a small split in the ivory in the middle of the handle. letter opener, warrnambool

Pins were expensive and so the use of pincushions to keep them safe, to protect them and other items was practical and popular. Chinese carved ivory clamps with pincushion tops were common accessories for work boxes. Such as these they were made in the East for sale to European markets where they were a way of showing one's financial status. Pins were precious sewing tools which needed to be kept safe and sharp, pincushions were an essential sewing tool for keeping pins. Carved bone or ivory clamp with screw through base for attachment.. Topped with pincushion covered with (replacement) embroidered silkclamp, pincushion, ivory carving

These ivory sticks were used as decorative items to secure hair buns. They were owned by Alice Dinsmore nee Reardon who was born in 1860 in Castlemaine, Victoria and died 18 May 1936 in Albury, New South Wales. She married George Wesley Wadeson Dinsmore. Alice and George Dinsmore were grandparents of Mrs Jean Raper who donated these sticks and many assorted items of jewellery to the Wodonga & District Historical Society.This item is from the Raper Collection donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Mrs. Jean Raper.2 small ivory sticks used for hair decorations. One has a brass cap on one end. The other stick has a notched shape on one end.fashion accessory, hair decorations, women's fashion

ivory, cane, walking aid

Ivory thimble made in China for European market 1840's. Representative of the style of bone and ivory thimbles made in China for workboxes made for European marketIvory thimbleThree plain bands on lower edge, rounded top heavily dimpled, ivory, thimble

Sourced at Battersea Vintage Clothing Fair, London in 2005.A good example of an early 20th century corsetEarly 20th century corset underbust style with ivory coloured cotton with lace detail. Front opening with busk and lacing, allowing easy adjusting. Six wide, adjustable suspender straps with fancy metal clips Boning at between one and four inch intervals, mostly no more than two inches apart. Several re-enforced seams inbetween the boning. Lace trim across the top is not original and has been removed. Elastic panel at base for movement. Gossard

No specific information is available for this item. However, ivory was common in early 20th century household items, which were often purchased overseas as souvenirs. Many ivory items originated from Asia. Letter openers are still used today; however, they are now made out of steel as ivory is illegal.This item is an example of the use of ivory in domestic households early in the 20th century. A long, cream-white letter opener made out of ivory with a plain blade and rounded handle.There is decorative patterning on the handle consisting of holes and circles.ivory, letter opener, letters, chiltern athenaeum museum, mail

Prior to the development of standardized tape measures, tapes such as these were marked by hand. The tape in this tape measure has probably been replaced. Turned ivory tools were made in China for the European market in the mid 1800's and were popular as displays of social statusRepresents the sewing tools of the era.Tape measure in a pierced ivory barrel. Green ribbon tape (no marks visible) has a bone stopper glued to the endtape measure, ivory

A 16 page booklet, printed on paper in dark blue ink, showing patterns for canvas embroidery, with instructions.Written in red ink at top right of front page: "Myrtle Nankervis [Maedon?] - 8/8/13"needlework, canvas embroidery, embroidery, florentine embroidery, myrtle nankervis

Carved ivory needlebook - symbol of personal wealth.Needlebook with ivory covers, both decorated with incised designs and carved edges imitating a lacy edge, inner bands of straight lines with a circular pattern central motif. Spine of gold brocade tied with dark green nylon(replacement) ribbon threaded through slots in each cover. Four leaves of kerseymere with blue and yellow whip stitched edging.Carved patternflannel, ivory, brocade, nylon ribbon, thread

Typical of needlework accessories made in Canton area of China for European market. Made to hold needles which were expensive tools By late 18th century, needle making had achieved the ability to produce very fine needles which needed to be protected. Cylindrical carved ivory needlecase. Screw cap.Bas relief carving design with butterflies and flowers needleholder, ivory

Item relates to H.V.Rooke VX47141, refer Cat No 4906.2Rosary Beads consisting of metal cross with possibly ivory cross on, attached is a metal chain with small of white sections along the chain.On Ivory Cross small metal piece the letters, “NRI”accessory, rosary beads

A Bodkin is shaped like an oversized sewing needle with a blunt point and large eye and is used to pull a drawstring through a fabric casing- an essential to clothes fastenings for centuries.When most clothes were laced, bodkins were essential tool for dressing. This is a luxury item in which to store bodkins Cylindrical ivory bodkin case decorated with concentric creating a segmented appearancebodkin case, ivory

Probably brought to the area by Chinese miners or shopkeepers. It was used to weigh small items at a time when goods were often paid in gold. In could also be used for weighing opium. In China it was known as a Dotchin. Creswick had a large Chinese population which arrived circa 1855 and established the Chinese Camp (now Calembeen Park) plus other satelite camps in the area. In 1859 there was over 1,000 residents in the area and many operated as shopkeepers. Joined pieces of wood (bamboo), violin shape case joined with brass rivet together. The case features a long section to house the ivory rod with the bulbous section to house metal dish with four holes. Ivory rod. Metal weight is missingIvory rod has markings to indicate weight. Metal dish has four holesscale, goldrush, gold, miners, opium smoking, shopkeeping

Studio portrait in Cabinet Card format of John Watson, the father of Mrs Ivory.Reverse: "Donated by Mrs Ivory / taken approx 1890s / Albert John Watson aged 12 / Hawthorn College"albert john watson

Typical of ivory needlecase made in China for workboxes for sale to visiting Europeans 1840'sTypical of ivory needlecase made in China for workboxes for sale to visiting Europeans 1840'sCarved chinese ivory needlecase with screw lid

Chinese made container for sewing needles when needles were expensive.Decorative chinese carved needleholder in era when needles were expensive and items such as these were made in China for sale to European markets Carved in basket weave pattern ivory needle holder in shape of a Chinese umbrella with plain top and bottom band.needleholder, ivory

A thumb tack, push pin or drawing pin is a short nail or pin used to fasten items to a wall or board for display and intended to be inserted by hand, generally without the assistance of tools. A variety of names are used to refer to different designs intended for various purpose. Edwin Moore invented the "push-pin" in 1900 and founded the Moore Push-Pin Company. Moore described the push-pin as a pin with a handle. Later, in 1904, in Lychen, German clockmaker Johann Kirsten invented flat-headed thumb tacks for use with drawings. A thumb tack has two basic components: the head, often made of plastic, metal or wood, and the body, usually made of steel or brass. The head is wide to distribute the force of pushing the tack in, allowing only the hands to be used. Many head designs exist: flat, domed, spherical, cylindrical and a variety of novelty heads.Cardboard box with sliding insert that contained 48 'IVORY' Brand celluloid head Thumb Tackson Box ; 48 / 48 / CELLULOID HEAD THUMB TACKS / 'G' / PIN WILL NOT / PASS THROUGH / BEST / QUALITY / IVORY / BRAND / MADE IN GERMANYdrawing pins, thumb tacks, brass tacks, moore edwin, kirsten johann

Albert John Watson was a son of John Watson Esq, Steward of the Kew Methodist Church.Studio portrait on a Paris Panel (Cabinet Card) of John Watson playing a cello. Joh Watson was the father of Mrs Ivory, the donor. Annotations on reverse: "Reg. No. KH.134. Albert John Watson, aged 21. Donated by Mrs Ivory, 1979. daughter and member Kew Historical Society."coles studio (melbourne), mrs ivory, albert john watson

French port of Dieppe (trading with French colonies in Africa) produced exquisitely carved ivory needlework tools such as this one in late 18th cenury and early 19th century Functional and luxurious needlework tool produced in Dieppe area of France where very beautifully carved ivory became status symbol quality needlework toolsIvory pea pod shaped needle case which separates into two pieaces. Stalk end on pod is intact.ivory pea pod needlecase, ivory needlecase

c1880 This tiny tape measure, in Imperial measurements, was part of a Victorian era lady's sewing basket. The case is of polished timber, and the little winder, to retract the tape, is made of brass with a small ivory handleEarly settlers and market gardeners of Moorabbin Shire had to be self reliant producing their own food and making their farm equipment and clothing. The women of these families were skilful in all craftwork.c1880 this tiny, retractable, tape measure, in Imperial measure, is made of polished timber with a brass winder and ivory handle. Imperial ‘inch’ measurements on tape dressmaking, tape measure, sewing, craftwork, pioneers, early settlers, market gardeners, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh cheltenham

English ivory needlecase made when sewing needles when needles were expensiv - needle work accessory to demonstrate owner's wealthThis style of motifs was popular for carved needlework accessories in 19th century. Dots and circles are created by pressing hot coloured wax into dots and circles carved into the ivory. Cylindrical ivory needlecase with incised pattern of black circles and dots. Both ends have seven bands on the tapered ends. unscrews near the middle.Decorative style of black dots and circles now known as 'madras work' or 'dot and circle decoration. needleholder, anglo_indian

Vegetable ivory became a popular substance to use for needlework tools c 1860, it was very suitable for lathe turning and cheaper than ivory. Combining the cotton reel with a pincushion created a convenient tool to display and use. Presence of the wooden cotton reel dated 1863 tells of an early cotton reel, and that the piece was used.Vegetable ivory was a substitute for elephant ivory, this standing compendium was an useful item for display. Unusual to have a wooden cotton reel with a name and date. Standing thistle shaped carved vegetable ivory combined cotton reel holder and pincushion with bone spindle and worn red velvet pincushion. Cotton reel on it is a replacement and has cotton on it. Base of cotton reel in indian ink: "Gina Pipe, May 15th, 1863"reel, vegetable ivory

Netting at home created special items such as purses, infant wear etc. ivory clamps were used in pairs for finer threads,Decorative ivory clamps were luxury items most used before 1840's.Ivory and bone combination winding and netting clamp, topped with reel and urn shaped knob for netting. Base screw of bone. Rectangular shape decorated with black dot and circle (Madras) pattern.Black Dot and circle pattern on body of clampnetting, madras style decoration