Sterling Silver Needle Cushion
These sterling silver needle cushion pieces are charming small objects created to hold sewing pins, combining silverwork with fabric.
Sterling Silver Needle Cushion
A sterling silver needle cushion is a desk or sewing accessory designed to hold pins safely while working on textiles. The pieces found here span the Victorian, Edwardian, and 19th Century periods, showing considerable variety in their forms.
Novelty animal shapes dominate the selection, including pigs, chicks, dogs, lions, and birds, alongside practical items such as shoes, hats, and canoes. These charming examples reflect the Edwardian appetite for amusing small silver objects.
Most items combine sterling silver mounts or modelled figures with velvet or fabric inserts to receive the pins. They range from miniature animals to functional stands and heart-shaped boxes.
How they were made
Silversmiths used sterling silver to shape the bodies of animals or the frames of stands, often employing chasing and casting techniques to achieve detailed fur, feathers, or smooth contours. These metalsmithing methods allowed for both miniature realism and structural rigidity.
Velvet and fabric inserts were fitted snugly into the silver cavities to serve as the functional cushion for needles and pins. The textiles were chosen to contrast with the polished surface of the sterling silver.
What varies in quality
The survival and integrity of the original velvet or fabric insert also affect the character of each piece. Maker marks and clear hallmarks contribute to the distinction of the work.
Sampson Mordan·George W Shiebler·Artificer's Guild·Goldsmiths
The Sterling Silver Needle Cushion Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper, chosen for durability in decorative objects.
- Novelty
- An object made in an amusing or unusual shape, such as an animal or shoe, which was popular during the Edwardian era for desk accessories.
- Hallmark
- A official stamp or marks struck on items to guarantee the metal standard and show the assay office and date letter.
- Chasing
- A metalsmithing technique where the silversmith depresses the metal from the front with a hammer and punch to create surface patterns.
- Pin cushion
- A small stuffed pad or receptacle used for holding pins and needles during sewing.
Sterling Silver Needle Cushion: Frequently Asked Questions
What are sterling silver needle cushions?
These pieces are small sewing accessories made with a sterling silver frame or modelled figure combined with a fabric pad.
They were designed to hold pins and needles securely on a dressing table or sewing desk.
How were these pin cushions used?
Makers designed them to sit within reach during needlework so sewers could temporarily store pins.
Their decorative novelty shapes also allowed them to function as ornamental display items in period interiors.
How do I identify the period?
Hallmarks stamped on the silver provide the most reliable guide to the date and origin of manufacture.
Stylistic details, such as the naturalistic animal forms typical of Edwardian novelty silver, also help determine age.
Are the fabric inserts original?
Many pieces retain their early velvet or fabric pads, though some have been renewed over time.
Examining the wear and fit of the textile helps indicate whether the material matches the age of the silver mount.