Title

sewing stand

Date19th Century

Mediumwhale ivory, wood, abalone, tortoise shell

Dimensions14 × 9 × 9 in. (35.6 × 22.9 × 22.9 cm)

Object number00.191.3

Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum

DescriptionFour drawer stand: a three-tiered lazy-susan spool holder constructed of wood, inlaid and veneered with wood; whale ivory drawer-pulls inlaid with tortoise shell dots; four turned wooden corner columns, each on a turned whale ivory foot inset with red and green sealing wax, and each surmounted by a turned-and-grooved whale ivory mushroom pommel, the front two crowned with velvet covered pincushions (the front right one damaged, the two back ones missing, with some adhesive residue present). Atop the chest are two levels of spool holders on three wooden disc-shaped platforms, inlaid with tortoise shell and abalone in diamond, star, and circle patterns; the lower tier with eight turned, grooved whale-ivory struts inset with red and green sealing wax, and 8 large turned whale ivory spools, of which only two are grooved and inset with sealing wax; the middle tier with the eight spool post finials of the lower tier, grooved and inset with sealing wax, four turned, grooved whale-ivory struts inset with sealing wax, and four small turned whale ivory spools; the upper tier with the four spool post finials of the middle tier, grooved and inset with sealing wax, and a large turned whale ivory finial, threaded to a central shaft of sperm whale ivory, all grooved and inset with sealing wax; threaded and fastened to the top of the chest with a whale ivory nut. Two extra small spools inside. Also found inside: the paper template for a hand-form scrimshaw finial or pommel, perhaps for a pie crimper/jagging wheel, knitting needle, tamper, or riding crop; length 2 1/4".

On View

On view