For your weekend viewing pleasure – in case you’re stuck inside in snowy weather, or trying to escape the summer heat in the Southern Hemisphere, or just in the mood to browse some photos of exquisite needlework tools of the past – check out this upcoming auction of antique needlework tools at Theriault’s!
Theriault’s is an expert appraisal and auction firm for antique dolls, so most of their auctions deal with dolls.
But this particular auction for the Hanne Buktas Collection of Antique Needlework Tools and Sewing Accessories is what caught my interest and had me glued to the computer screen for quite a while. It features unique and truly beautiful tools, boxes, etuis, needle cases, pin cushions collected from European estates.
The auction takes place January 12 in Newport Beach, California. If you’re a keen collector and you want to bid, you can, of course, bid online as well.
But for most of us, viewing the items is about as close as we’ll get to them. And they are fun to view! I’ll highlight a few pieces that caught my eye – and, with almost 350 pieces in the whole auction, there’s plenty to catch your eye, too!
This gilt bird’s nest necessaire graces the cover of the catalog. Nestled within the translucent, hinged glass egg are scissors, thimble, awl, and needle.
I want it.
This musical sewing box is decked out in embossed gilt papers, sports a mirror and removable trays, and contains many little treasures, including a little embroidered friendship card.
I want it.
An absolutely exquisite chatelaine! It’s gilt, features mythological scenes, is about 11″ long, and it has some really nice accessories attached to the ends – one of which is a teeny tiny little journal.
I probably don’t have to mention that I want it.
For bead embroidery enthusiasts, this lovely pair of notebooks with beaded covers might tickle your fancy!
They tickle mine silly. I want them.
But you know, I could pass on all the previous items, if I could have just this one piece. It’s an asparagus etui.
It’s 5.5″ tall, has a silver hinged cap on the end that you open to access your tools within, and it has one painted bug on it.
I think everyone needs an asparagus etui! I don’t know why I’m in love with this piece, but for some reason, when I came upon it, it completely charmed me. The delicate painting, the color, the whimsy of it – I am totally twitterpated!
It was about at this point of my browsing through the auction pieces that my mother’s voice crept into my subconscious, quoting one of my grammy’s favorite sayings (and I think she said it the nice way): “Want in one hand and spit in the other – see which fills up first!”
Well, it’s fun to browse, anyway, and I find beautiful antiques and tiny treasures like these to be inspiring. I’m thinking of embroidering asparagus on everything I see!
Hope you enjoy browsing the auction as much as I did!
If you want a permanent record and more detail of the pieces in this auction, you can also order the auction catalog – the link can be found at the top of each page of the online catalog. The print catalog is $49.
