Antique Sewing Boxes and Baskets

Before mass-produced clothing became affordable, sewing was a way of life for people around the globe. Most often, women were charged with seamstressing duties, and at a young age, girls were required to master complicated sewing skills. As a result, containers such as boxes and baskets designed to hold sewing tools were widespread and diverse.

The earliest sewing containers were simple bags made of fabric or leather. However, by the 18th century in Europe, metalworkers, jewelers, and other craftspeople were tasked with making fine sewing tools for aristocrats and ladies of the court. This led to the production of handsome boxes to hold these tools. Artisans used rare woods, leather, ivory, or precious metals inlaid with gems and mother of pearl on the outsides of their boxes, while the interiors were lined with rich silk or velvet. Larger boxes had two or even three levels or sections.

In the 19th century, industrialization and the rise of the middle class created a market for less expensive and more practical sewing boxes that were both attractive and durable,...

A typical Victorian sewing box would be just big enough to keep all of a woman’s sewing tools, as well as a little bit of her handiwork. Inside, you’d find a needle book with a large range of sizes, along with an assortment of thread made of cotton, linen, and silk, plus buttons formed from shells, acorns, wood, and metal. Sewing implements included different types of shears and scissors, a pin cushion and needle emery, a jar of beeswax, and a folding measure or measuring tape. Some boxes even housed tools to make lace or square cords.

The interior of woman’s sewing box was considered an intimate space, much the way the inside of a purse is now. Many of them were made to be locked, and a lady might keep some sort of love token inside it, like a romantic letter, a book of poetry, or an image of her beloved.

In France, small sewing boxes known as étui in France and "lady’s companions" in England and Germany were wildly popular. These portable containers usually held the most basic tools required for sewing on a day trip or for a sewing circle: scissors, needle care, bodkin, and thimble. Larger lady’s companions might hold a small mirror, a tiny perfume bottle, a little New Testament, a lady’s knife, tweezers, or a button hook. The containers were sometimes shaped like books with “Lady’s Companion” on the spine, while others resembled fold-up leather pocketbooks. Other whimsical sewing boxes were shaped like eggs, hearts, sceptres, or even flasks.

When the first sewing machine was introduced in 1860, women found their thread to be too stiff to run through the newfangled contraption. In response, George Clark introduced a six-cord, soft cotton thread for these machines in 1864, and branded it as Clark’s O.N.T. (for “Our New Thread’). In the late 1800s, the Clark Thread Company issued many sewing kits and boxes advertising this brand.

Small, lidded baskets—woven from cane, grass, rushes, willow, honeysuckle, or bamboo—also made suitable sewing containers. In 1800s China, a bride would be presented small gifts in ornate baskets during her wedding. These baskets were exported by the thousands to the United States starting around 1880, and were popular as sewing baskets until around 1930.

Primarily produced in the Guangdong province near Canton, Chinese baskets were adorned with colorful glass bangles and beads, coins, and silk tassels. Such sewing baskets would also be decorated with images such as dragons and flowers made of gesso or barbola. Smaller baskets (10 inches in diameter) would be used to hold spools of thread, needles, scissors, and measuring tape, whereas the larger baskets (12-14 inches) could also contain skeins of ribbon.

In the early 20th century, baskets were the most used sewing containers in the United States. Often they would be lined, with spaces for a pin cushion, scissors sheath, and thimble holder sewn into the lining. Starting around 1930, wicker bucket totes, like those made by Princess and Harvey, became beloved sewing box for countless numbers of women. These usually have cord handles and decal images of flowers, poodles, and sewing tools on their wooden lids.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Antique Sewing Machine Collector Harry Berzack on Singers and Manhattans

I work for a sewing machine distribution company that was started by my late father. We mainly distribute industrial sewing machin… [more]

Angry Chicken's Amy Karol on Sewing, Vintage Slips, and Her Apron Obsession

I think I started collecting vintage aprons seriously probably in 1991, my first year of college. I was an absolute junkie for vin… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Sewing Machine Collector

Sewing Machine Collector

Geoff and Norma Dickens' reference site on vintage toy sewing machines from the late 1800s. Browse the images alpha… [read review or visit site]

Sensibility Vintage Images

Sensibility Vintage Images

An extensive collection of photos and ephemera illustrating changing fashion styles from 1795 to 1959. Includes por… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Sewing

Other Great Reference Sites: Sewing

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 80 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Vintage Accordion Wood Sewing Box Basket Strommen Bruk HamarAntique Sewing Etui Kit Case Carved Bone Handle Tools & Scissors Thimble Pencil Vintage Wooden Sewing Basket Box Lots Of Storage Accordion Style Large Dk WoodOld Sewing Box, Sabbathday Shakers, Maine, Silk Lined, Some Copper NailsVery Early Standing Fold Out Accordion Wood Sewing Box With Carry Handle Antique Victorian Filigree Golden Metal Green Velvet Sewing Box3 Mauchline Robert Burns Related Dumfries Scenes, Darner Lidded Box & Pin Dish Gorgeous Wooden Box With Tray - Found With Sewing Items Vintage Wood Dovetail 3 Tier Fold Accordion Sewing Box 2 Vtg Wooden Apple Box Primitive Miniature Toy Japan Wood Sewing Thread Holder?Antique Rosewood Box Mother Of Pearl Lock And Key 187019th Century Antique Sewing Box ***complete Interior Lid***Six Vintage Wicker Sewing Basket S Notions Antique Victorian Velvet Sewing Box Boxed Set Mop Tools Scissors Kit Case BoneRetro Paisley Fabric Covered Sewing Basket Box Metal Handle Mid Century Vintage?Sterling Silver Thimble BoxVtg Fold Out Accordion Sewing Box 3 Tier All Wood Wooden W Lace Romania Lge 12" Antique Flame Mahogany Box Lock And Key C18703 Vintage Silver Tone Metal & Malachite Stud Buttons In Leather Half Moon BoxChic & Shabby Vintage French Decorative / Sewing Box & Contents,lace,threads EtcVictorian Mauchline Ware Thimble Case Box Sewing Eggcup Criccieth Castle Treen Vintage Buttons With Old Seed Box Over 4 PoundsVintage Wilson Wil Hold Cream/gold Plastic Weaved Sewing Notion Basket Box TraysVintage Wooden Accordian Sewing BoxVintage Floral Cloth Knitting Crochet Folding Basket Bag, Stand, Tote - Fun!!!Vintage Singer Wooden Cantilevered Sewing Box Accordion BasketVintage Scissors J. Wiss & Sons Pinking Shears Model C In Box Newark NjLarge Vintage Red White Check Sewing Basket Woven Base & Handle Japan Jc PenneyAntique Wooden Sewing Storage BoxExcellent Vintage Set Of 6 'guinness' Waistcoat Buttons In Original Box19thc Quality Marquetry Inlay Sewing Work Box Casket Mahogany Lift Out TraySilver And Enamel --- Needle Box --- With A Silver Needle---2 Boxes Of Vintage Star Tatting Cotton Spools/american Thread Co/in Star BoxVintage 60Antique Napoleonic Prisoner-of-war Carved Wood Sewing Thread Dispensing Box Antique Vintage 1930`s Unique Belgium Orginal Box 48 Sewing Thread Spool WinderWooden Sewing BoxAntique Vintage German Child's Sewing Box Kit Book With Ephemera Vintage White Belding Corticelli Silk Thread In Original Box! Great Display.Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Oak & Maroon Velvet Lined Wood Accessories Box2 Antique Victorian Sewing Necessaire Box Tools Crochet Button Hook Pin Cushion Vintage Sewing Basket Plus Sewing ItemsVtg Picnic Or Sewing Basket-wooden Woven 12"x6"x 8" Anton Grech Decoupage ImageVintqage Singer Automatic Zigzagger #160985 Featherweight In Box W/ InstructionsAntique Metal Sewing BasketOld Shaker Sewing Basket Box Finger Grooves Lovely ConditionC. A. Myers ~ Myers Famous Lock Stitch Swing Awl In Original Box W/ InstructionsVintage Clark's Ont Thread 12 Black In Box Sewing Six Cord 360 Yds Wooden SpoolsSet Of 12 Vintage Shibata Japan Thimbles Porcelain Mint In Box Flowers FloralPrincess Sewing Basket Box Starburst Wicker Braid Browns/tan Vintage 50sVintage Large Woven Wicker Wooden Sewing Box BasketVintage 1950's Tidee Maid Deluxe Thread Box/caddy With Thread PlasticVintage Vanity Sewing Box Pin Cushion Spool Thread Holder Vintage Singer Sewing Needles And Others With BoxEnesco Porcelain Stein Thimble With Box Antique Bicycle Bike 1985 See All 10!Fabric Panel For Pillow Flower Basket With Instruction Antique Scottish Mauchline Ware Treen Cotton Reel Bobbin Thimble Box C1920Singer Skirt Marker Rule; 24"; Great Britain; Good Condition; Original BoxA Very Nice And Unusual 19thc Miniature Sewing Box With Pin Cushion.Vintage, Sewing Basket, Box, Pink Lining, Woven Natural Color And Pink, 10 X 10