Needle Cases

About Antique Sewing Needle Cases

Needles, once quite labor-intensive to make, have long been valued as an important domestic tool. As far back as the Vikings, people kept their needles in ornamental boxes and cases. In the Victorian era, needle cases were made of wood, bone, sterling silver, pewter, or other materials, and often shaped like figural or decorative items. 'Needle books' were also common, generally hand made, and often embroidered. The etui was also a popular item: while not a dedicated needle holder, these small boxes held needles and other items women would need for domestic tasks (scissors, pencils, tweezers, etc).


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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Antique Sewing Machine Collector Harry Berzack

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

An Interview With Antique Sewing Thimble Collector Sue Gowan

My husband, Mike, used to buy me pieces of china. One day he bought me a Jasperware blue Wedgwood thimble and I put… [more]

An Interview on Vintage Fashion, Sewing, and Aprons with Author Amy Karol

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

Guest Column: Collecting Vintage Sewing Patterns

Paper sewing patterns were first manufactured in the middle of the 1800s. These first paper patterns were designed … [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

The NeedleBar

The NeedleBar

A rich site showcasing the passion of a group of antique sewing machine collectors from around the globe. Features … [read review or visit site]

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]

Vintage Patterns

Vintage Patterns

Looking for some vintage patterns or style ideas? This Flickr photo pool, a group effort, showcases a huge collecti… [read review or visit site]

Thimbleselect of Australia

Thimbleselect of Australia

Sue Gowan's impressive thimbles reference database. Using the left-side navigation, choose 'Learn More About' and s… [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]


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Gorgeous Ornate Baroque Solid Silver Needlecase$76.89 Ends Friday 5 bids 20 watchers
Vintage Cased Set Of Milward Knitting Needles+gauge+++$46.56 Ends in 11 hours 27 bids 16 watchers
Antique French Silver Primroses Needle Case * Circa1890$41.00 Ends Monday 11 bids 35 watchers
The Boye Needle Co.~ Vintage Round Metal Sewing Case$37.51 Ends Monday 4 bids 38 watchers
Mauchline Ware Pot - Salisbury Cathedral$33.04 Ends in 2 hours 6 bids 12 watchers
Fascinating Antique Carved Horn Hoof Needle Case *c1890$32.96 Ends Monday 5 bids 20 watchers
Wonderful Little Antique Needle Trunk, Red Leather 1880$31.00 Ends Monday 2 bids 11 watchers
Antique,primitive,sewing,wood,needle Holders,bullet, $29.95 Ends in 8 hours 7 bids 17 watchers
Antique Figural Parasol Bone Needle Case * Circa1890$28.60 Ends Monday 4 bids 31 watchers
Rare Carved Vegetable Ivory Acorn Needle Bobbin Case$28.52 Ends in 11 hours 5 bids 21 watchers
Antique French Sewing Kit ~ Toiletry Vanity Travel$26.50 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 5 watchers
Antique Treen Tartan Mauchline Ware Needle Cotton Case $26.32 Ends in 10 hours 10 bids 44 watchers
Vintage Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine Case$26.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 10 watchers
Antique Victorian Ox Bone "castle Turret" Needle Case.$25.51 Ends in 9 hours 4 bids 36 watchers
Antique Silver Chatelaine Needle Case$24.15 Ends in 10 hours 12 bids 53 watchers
Good Vintage Cased Sewing Set+silver Thimble 1904.no Re$24.12 Ends in 6 hours 10 bids 37 watchers
Antique Sterling Silver Thimble Sewing Thread Case Vtg$23.59 Ends Monday 5 bids 40 watchers
Antique Pin Safe Glass Pins Lithograph Image Girls$22.00 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 13 watchers
Antique Bodkin Or Needle Case$21.77 Ends Monday 3 bids 16 watchers
Antique Victorian Beadwork Needle Case / Book - Beaded$21.77 Ends in 9 hours 9 bids 61 watchers
Maine Estate Antique Bone Sewing Needle Case Box$20.99 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 17 watchers
Antique Needle Case , Bone$20.50 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 29 watchers
George Washington Headquarters Relic - Wood Needle Case$20.50 Ends Monday 6 bids 37 watchers
1869 Victorian Needle Case Brass Stella Golden By Pratt$19.99 Ends in 8 hours 1 bid 15 watchers
Box Willcox & Gibbs Lockstitch Sewing Machine Needles 3$19.99 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
Antique Sterling Silver Lattice Thimble Case Sewing Vtg$19.00 Ends Monday 6 bids 37 watchers
Beautiful Vintage 14kt Solid Gold Needle On 14 K Chain $17.99 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 6 watchers
Fab Sterling & Enameled Victorian Needle Case & Thimble$16.48 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 10 watchers
Vintage German Celluloid Scissors Sewing Case Thimble$16.00 Ends Monday 6 bids 18 watchers
Antique German Children Lithograph Glass Head Pin Card+$15.89 Ends in 16 hours 3 bids 29 watchers
Antique 1915 Solid Silver Needle Case Bodkin Chatelaine$15.81 Ends in 9 hours 13 bids 35 watchers
Stunning French Needle Case & Stiletto$15.75 Ends in 23 hours 3 bids 18 watchers
19c Vegetable Carved Needle Case Formed As 2 Acorns$15.02 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 9 watchers
Victorian Period Carved Vegatable Needle Case$15.02 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 10 watchers
Peapod Needlecase, Like Iv0 Ry, For The Sewing Box$15.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 9 watchers
Old Boye Sewing Machine Needle Display W 5 Dozen Tubes!$14.99 Ends in 13 hours 1 bid 22 watchers
Vintage German Sewing Kit Needle Case Thimble Spool Old$14.00 Ends Monday 5 bids 15 watchers
Lot Of 5 Antique Paper Needle Cases$13.69 Ends in 12 hours 3 bids 6 watchers
Ornate Antique French Silver Needle Case * Circa 1830$13.30 Ends Monday 2 bids 15 watchers
19thc Victorian Treen Fruitwood Needle/cotton Case/box.$12.03 Ends Sunday 2 bids 15 watchers
Antique Victorian Dorcas Needle Case / Book - Bodkin$11.25 Ends in 9 hours 2 bids 18 watchers
Silver Needle Case Pin Case Lobster$11.11 Ends in 9 hours 5 bids 17 watchers
A Very Collectable Sterling Silver Needle Case$11.11 Ends in 8 hours 6 bids 14 watchers
Solid Silver Victorian Style Embossed Needle Case$10.50 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 5 watchers
Antique Wood Needle Case Barrel Shape Best Wishes$9.99 Ends in 9 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
Antique German Biedermeier Bone Needle Holder C1820$9.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 1 watcher
Gorgeous Engraved Silver Bodkin$9.95 Ends in 23 hours 1 bid 12 watchers
Avery The Quadruple Golden Casket Needle Case$9.95 Ends Monday 1 bid 4 watchers
Avery The Golden Needle Case$9.95 Ends Monday 1 bid 10 watchers
French Solid Silver Gilt Sewing Needle Case Circa 1890$9.01 Ends Sunday 5 bids 22 watchers
Vintage*the Air Mail Needle Book*w/original Envelope*ex$9.00 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 5 watchers
15 Vintage Sewing Needle Packets Dixandrands Marth Wash$9.00 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 6 watchers
Antique Vegetable Ivory Needle Case * Circa 1880$9.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 11 watchers
Solid 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry Needle Case Holder $9.00 Ends in 4 hours 13 bids 8 watchers
Antique Eclectic Needle Case Milward Redditch Sewing$8.77 Ends Monday 4 bids 31 watchers
Solid 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry Needle Case Holder $7.50 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 4 watchers

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