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Page 26      The Antique Shoppe  March, 2020
                    “SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE”                                     the ladies themselves—those for whom sewing was a “genteel art”. A prized
                                                                                  gift in these circles was an etui, a decorative box filled with exquisitely realized
                     Design Trends of the Mid-20th Century                        sewing accessories. (An example of sewing’s downward tumble in today’s
                                                                                  public awareness: a well-stocked etui was recently offered for sale as “Aunt
                                                                                  Ida’s manicure box”. Aunt Ida evidently liked her manicures on the rough side.)
          By Donald-Brian Johnson                                                   What constitutes a collectible sewing accessory? Well, for starters, thimbles
                                                                                  and thimble holders. In addition to metal thimbles, here have been wood
                                                                                  thimbles, plastic thimbles, and porcelain thimbles, as well as less practical
          This Month’s Feature—                                                   options, such as glass and mother-of-pearl.
                                                                                    Naturally, all those thimbles called for thimble holders, and here imagination
                        STITCHES IN TIME:                                         ran rampant. Some portrayed classical or pastoral figures. Others were issued
                 Sensational Sewing Collectibles                                                                         as souvenirs of specific occasions:
                                                                                                                         a shell thimble holder from the
          It’s 1908, and Mr. and Mrs.                                                                                    1898 Omaha Exposition depicts a
        Smith are going on a trip. Mr.                                                                                   boy in a sailboat.
        Smith has just finished packing                                                                                    Also ubiquitous in the sewing
        his new pride-and-joy: a hot-off-                                                                                realm: pincushions. There are
        the-Detroit-assembly-line “Model                                                                                 pincushions held by winsome
        T”. No horse and buggy for the                                                                                   ceramic children. . .metal
        Smiths! Mr. Smith helps Mrs.                                                                                     and wood pincushion shoes. .
        Smith in, cranks up the “T”, and                                                                                 .beadwork pincushions . . .and
        off they go on their lengthy (40                                                                                 fashionable ladies boasting
        miles at least!) journey.                                                                                        pincushion skirts.
          But wait: Mrs. Smith has                                                                                         The twentieth century saw the
        forgotten something. No, she                                                                                     advent of a new batch of sewing
        simply cannot do without it, don’t                                 Pewter thimble holders, tallest figure        collectibles, including catalog
        even ask. Mr. Smith sighs, stops                                        3-1/2” h. $175-200 each.                 advertisements, instructional
        the auto, and heads back into                                                                                    booklets, and sewing patterns.
        the house. He emerges lugging                                                                                    Judging by the colorful
        Mrs. Smith’s portable sewing                                                                                     illustrations on the pattern packets
        machine, (the 1907 “Singer                                                                                       issued by Butterick, McCall’s, and
        Travel Model”). At the turn of                                                                                   Simplicity, sewing perfection was
        the twentieth century, a sewing                                                                                  just a needle-and-thread away.
        machine is a must-have, even                                                                                       And, while few collectors
        when you’re on vacation.                                                                                         have enough space available to
          In our ready-to-wear world,                                                                                    host hordes of full-scale sewing
        sewing is often regarded as                                                                                      machines, there are plenty of travel
        merely a quaint curiosity, a                                                                                     and toy versions available. “Junior
        nearly-forgotten homemaking art.                                                                                 machines” with bright case colors
        But, once upon a time, sewing                                                                                    were marketed as teaching tools
        was a mainstay of the harried                                                                                    for youngsters. Promos for Singer
        housewife’s daily “to do” list.                                                                                  miniatures of the 1920 proudly
        As the 1947 edition of the Singer                                                                                boasted that “every little girl over
        Dressmaking Guide noted:                                                    “Mrs. Smith” relied on this: 1907 “Singer   four years of age can set one up
          “Since time immemorial,                                                    Travel Machine”. 6-1/2” h., $250-275.  and sew in a jiffy”.
        sewing has been the special field                                                                                  Homemakers once spent
        of expression for woman. Down                                                                  Wooden boot       countless hours on sewing and
        through the ages, the advance of   The Spool Cotton Co. supplied something to                  pin cushions,     mending. Imaginative renditions
        sewing has marked the progress    keep the kids occupied while Mom sewed:                       tallest 5” h.    of the necessary tools lightened
        of the world, as definitely as    animal heads and tails, to glue to the spool                 $50-75 each.      their daily drudgery. Nowadays,
                                             ends. This one’s “Pete Pig”. $25-35.
        rings mark the age of the tree.”                                                                                 these basics of yesteryear’s
          How long have there been                                                                                       everyday life have become
        sewing accessories? Well,                                                                                        cherished collectibles. In many
        how long have folks been                                                                                         cases, they’re even put to their
        wearing clothes? “Bodkins”                                                                                       intended uses once again, with
        (stone “needles”), discovered                                                                                    the art of sewing  rediscovered by
        in French cave dwellings, have                                                                                   a new generation. As the Spool
        been reliably dated to the 15th                                                                                  Cotton Company put it, in their
        century—BC! The real glory days                                                                                   1941 booklet Learn How, sewing
        of sewing accessories, however,                                                                                   “gives color and meaning to
        had to wait until the 19th century,                                                                               modern life.” “Mrs. Smith” would
        when mass production made them                                                                                    definitely agree.
        readily available to all classes.
          Ordinary folk, sewing only for                                                                                  Photo Associate: Hank Kuhlmann. Sewing
        their own family, had the plainest                                                                                collectibles courtesy of Suzanne Earnest.
                                                                                                                          Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of
        tools. A wealthy household might                                                                                  numerous books on design and collectibles,
        indulge in more elaborate sewing                                                                                  including “Postwar Pop”, a collection of his
        accessories, for use by ladies’                                                                                   columns. Unfortunately, he can’t sew a stitch.
                                                                                                                          Please address inquiries to:
        maids. The most elegant sewing          “Kewpie” in cushion, 1920s.        “Dutch Shoe” sewing kit, a souvenir of the   donaldbrian@msn.com
        utensils were reserved for use by             3” h., $25-35.               1933-34 Chicago Worlds Fair. 5” l., $40-50.
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