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ID #SA1237041
FOR SALE
£385
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An Unusual Antique Treen Knitting Sheath
For sale by Opus Antiques
for sale €450     $489
£385
Opus Antiques

Opus Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2014
Browse dealers 80 items
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    Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items
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Id #SA1237041
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An Unusual Antique Treen Knitting Sheath

18th century
For Sale by Opus Antiques
Description

This is a very unusual late 1700s knitting sheath, I was told by the previous owner it was dutch and similar ones were illustrated in a book.

This knitting sheath, maybe carved by a dutch sailor has a figural top of a lady holding a cup. A hole in the head for the knitting stick to go into.

The bottom section resembles a letter opener and could have doubled up as two functions.

The sheath measures 27.5cm l .

Date of Manufacture

Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Treen Knitting Sheath to the 18th Century.

Independent Date Guide ID 09659287
Dealer's Item Date18th Century
Sellingantiques Date18th Century
Sellingantiques agingItem 205-280 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 18TH CENTURY:
Deep handling wear on all carved edges: long use over many generations.
Ring-and-dot stamped motifs down the stem: traditional vernacular decoration.
Darkened recesses against polished high points: decades of handling and wax polish.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1237041
Dealers Notes

Own a piece of history

Description
This is a very unusual late 1700s knitting sheath, I was told by the previous owner it was dutch and similar ones were illustrated in a book.

This knitting sheath, maybe carved by a dutch sailor has a figural top of a lady holding a cup. A hole in the head for the knitting stick to go into.

The bottom section resembles a letter opener and could have doubled up as two functions.

The sheath measures 27.5cm l .

Date of Manufacture

Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Treen Knitting Sheath to the 18th Century.

Independent Date Report ID 09659287
Dealer's Item Date18th Century
Sellingantiques dating18th Century
Sellingantiques agingItem 205-280 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 18th Century:
Deep handling wear on all carved edges: long use over many generations.
Ring-and-dot stamped motifs down the stem: traditional vernacular decoration.
Darkened recesses against polished high points: decades of handling and wax polish.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1237041
Opus Antiques
Opus Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2014

Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Opus Antiques Profile Page

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A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body.
1 / 10
Archive I A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body.

An Unusual Antique Treen Knitting Sheath

Archive II A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body. View II
Archive III A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body. View III
Archive IV A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body. View IV
Archive V A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body. View V
Archive VI A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body. View VI
Archive VII A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body. View VII
Archive VIII A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body. View VIII
Archive IX A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body. View IX
Archive X A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body. View X
Enlarged Archival View
Opus Antiques

Opus Antiques
Telephone 07941 285 532
Location
North Devon
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/opusantiques
Verified Since Oct 2014
Items For Sale 80
Items Sold 2,435
Opus Antiques
Opus Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2014
View Dealer Info
Location: North Devon, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/opusantiques
Verified
Oct 2014
For Sale
80
Sold
2,435
A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body.
An Unusual Antique Treen Knitting Sheath
Ref: SA1237041
A hand-carved brown wooden knitting sheath decorated with a figurative bird motif at the top and incised geometric circles along the body.
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectTreen
  • Period18th century
  • StyleBritish Folk Art
  • MaterialCarved Hardwood
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsFigurative top carving, Chip-carved geometric patterns, Incised ring decoration, Tapered terminal shaft

This unusual eighteenth-century British folk art knitting sheath is shaped from carved hardwood with a warm brown colour and a hand-polished finish. The piece shows age through surface patina and minor handling wear across the timber. The top section presents a detailed figurative carving of a lady holding a cup, complete with a hole in the head for a knitting needle, whilst the body tapers downwards into a blade-like terminal decorated with incised circular ring motifs and chip-carved geometric patterns. Measuring 27.5 cm in length, this utilitarian object serves as a decorative focal point when displayed upright on a living room bookshelf or mounted on a study wall.

FAQs

A knitting sheath, also known as a knitting stick, is a traditional carved wooden tool used to anchor a knitting needle against the body, enabling faster hand knitting and mobility.

Knitting sheaths were typically hand carved from dense hardwoods such as fruitwood, boxwood, oak, or sycamore, often featuring detailed chip carving or turned ornamentation.

Authentic examples exhibit operational wear around the needle aperture, a rich patina from handle contact, irregular hand-carved decoration, and subtle material shrinkage consistent with age.

These historical folk art items are best displayed secured on a custom acrylic stand, framed within a shadow box, or arranged alongside other wooden curiosities on a shelf.

Maintain wooden objects by dusting regularly with a soft dry cloth and applying a thin coat of natural beeswax polish annually, keeping them clear of damp environments and direct heat sources.
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