Antique Bird Pincushion
An antique bird pincushion is a charming desk accessory that holds sewing pins in miniature avian form, offering both practicality and whimsy.
Antique Bird Pincushion
An antique bird pincushion takes the form of small avian figures designed to hold pins on a fabric pad, serving both domestic and decorative functions on a dressing table or desk.
The pieces available here appear primarily from the Edwardian period and the early twentieth century, spanning dates such as 1906, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, and 1920.
The forms commonly encountered in this selection include specific birds such as swans, ducks, chicks, and hatching chicks, each modelled with distinct posture and detail.
How they were made
These items are constructed using sterling silver or silver for the modelled body, shaped to represent the contours of various waterfowl and small birds.
A fabric or velvet insert is fitted into the silver structure to receive and hold sewing pins securely during use.
The periods represented in the current selection span the Victorian era, the Edwardian period, and the year 1920.
What varies in quality
The refinement of the modelling separates simpler animal figures from those with more expressive posture and detailed feather work.
Maker attribution and assay office provenance, such as pieces bearing marks from Birmingham or Chester, add documentary interest to individual items.
Sampson Mordan & Co.
The Antique Bird Pincushion Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A standard alloy of silver comprising 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals, typically copper, used to form the body of the pincushion.
- Edwardian
- Pertaining to the period of the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910, a time when many of these novelty silver items were manufactured.
- Novelty silver
- Small silver objects shaped as animals, figures, or everyday items for amusement and utility, popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Assay office
- An official body that tests the purity of precious metals and stamps items with hallmarks, such as those located in Birmingham or Chester.
Antique Bird Pincushion: Frequently Asked Questions
What are antique bird pincushions?
These pieces are small silver ornaments shaped as birds like swans, ducks, and chicks, fitted with a fabric pad to hold sewing pins.
They were produced during the Edwardian era and the early twentieth century as decorative and functional desk items.
How were they used?
Owners placed sewing pins into the fabric or velvet cushion set into the silver body for easy access during needlework.
They sat upon dressing tables or writing desks as both practical sewing tools and ornamental novelties.
How do I date these pieces?
Dating relies upon the hallmarks stamped on the silver body, which indicate the assay office and the year of manufacture.
Many examples date from the Edwardian period, specifically between 1906 and 1920, as recorded in the listings.
What materials make up these cushions?
The structural bodies are fashioned from sterling silver or standard silver, formed into recognisable avian shapes.
Fabric or velvet provides the soft surface required to secure pins safely within the metal casing.