This is just a sample of the many antiques we have sold. Click link to see other Sales Archive Pages on this Site.

We can help you sell quality Antiques  Contact Us.

For further info on consigning / selling your antiques with us please see our FAQ page, the Appraisal / Selling Page and the Selling Your Collection Pages.

Our current offering of Antiques for sale are at our sister Website Patented-Antiques.com.

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Very Good + ........ $195.00     SOLD!

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Antique Figural Barracuda Sewing Clamp with Pincushion First there were just Plain Jane utilitarian sewing clamps to help seamstresses perform their tasks acting as third hands. Over time many different figural examples were made.  The were a number of patents issued for sewing clamps over the years and one for a sewing bird / clamp was issued in 1853.   Designs evolved to be more elaborate and clamps portrayed numerous other animals and creatures.   Many were custom made and are one of a kind creations and very rare.  That is the case with this example of a swimming Barracuda.  It is one I have never seen before.  It looks to date from the 19th century and may predate the 1853 patents that were issued for birds. 

This antique sewing clamp stands a bit over 9" tall and the Barracuda / fish is approx 5" long.  Every aspect is well done, from the turned screw to the cast the heart shaped / turnip shaped thumbscrew at the bottom.  The fish can swivel back and forth as though it is swimming.  The spring is good, and the Barracuda's teeth are cut to help hold fabric.  The design of the frame is great with its sweeps and chamfered sharp edges flowing into rounded ones.   A rare and unique specimen of a great form, and very unusual antique figural sewing clamp. 

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Excellent  ........ $995.00     SOLD!

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Sea Serpent / Snake Figural Brass Sewing Clamp w/ Pincushion This is a very graphic and nicely designed sewing clamp with a figural critter head to hold the fabric, and a pin cushion over a needle drawer in a decorated box mounted on the frame behind the figural head.  It is about 5" tall, and just under 3" wide.  The red velvet cloth on the pincushion is original and shows some wear.  It has developed a nice patina and is a very unusual design. 

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Very Good ++ ........ $575.00     SOLD!

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Figural Butterfly Sewing Clamp w/ 2 Pincushions  This is one of the rarest of American sewing clamps that can be found.  This is one of  just a couple I have seen in over 25 years of looking for them.  It is nickel plated brass and the condition is fabulous.  The spring is very strong and the butterfly's mouth grips fabric very well.  There are two pin cushions and both appear to be original.  The butterfly itself measures about 3" long, and the entire clamp stands about 5" tall overall.

The butterfly sewing clamps were made under the same patent as the commonly seen sheet brass sewing birds that have the 1853 patent information stamped on the wing.   The other figural or animal forms  never really caught on, and while the sewing birds made under this patent are relatively common, even to the point of still being made today, the other versions, like this one, were only offered for a short period and quickly faded into history.  A rare find!  All original and ready for display. 

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Excellent - Very Good ++ ........ $1495.00     SOLD!

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Cast Iron Mallard Duck Head Sewing Clamp with Pincushion This antique sewing clamp stands just about 7" tall and the duck head is a bit over 6" long.  The head is cast iron and every aspect is highly detailed right down to the glass eyes.

The spring is present, and it grips fabric well.  The pincushion fabric is a red velvet that looks like it may have been replaced in the past.  But it is not as bright as my picture came out.  The bottom clamp is cast brass.  A seldom seen sewing clamp that has great form, and will be a highlight of the display.

Very Good ........ $695.00     SOLD!

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Cast Brass Mallard Duck Head Sewing Clamp with Pincushion This antique sewing clamp is similar to the cast iron one above.   It is cast brass and has a few other subtle differences.  It is not just a copy  or recast of that version.   It stands just about 7" tall but the duck head is only 5" long. The inside of the mouth is pebbled-like to create a gripping surface and from what I remember very much like a ducks tongue, or like a cats tongue if you have ever felt that.  The spring is good, and it grips fabric well.  

The holder for the pincushion has a series of holes along the edge to help with attaching the fabric---a nice design touch.  The pincushion fabric is a red velvet that looks like it may have been replaced.  This type of sewing clamp dates from the mid to late 19th century and is a great example of how the design and art of these devices evolved from simple utilitarian devices to pieces of art.   A wonderful example of a great figural sewing clamp.

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Very Good ........ $795.00     SOLD!

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Curly Cue Snake Sewing Clamp w/ Pincushion This antique figural sewing clamp has a great double curly-cue shape.  It is very graphic and obviously represents a snake. 

The design of the spring loaded head / clamp is very different from the norm and works fine.  The spring loaded mounting clamp is also completely different from what is typically encountered.  You pull down on the spring loaded lever to open the jaws and it self-clamps into place.  It is an interesting design I have never seen used on a sewing clamp before.   The pincushion has decorative tucks that look to have been purposefully done to help create a look of petals or leaves. 

This antique snake form sewing clamp stands just about 7" tall and the tailed snake including the double loops is about 6" long .  This sewing clamp has a great look and is a unique one of a kind creation that will display very well and be a highlight of the different forms you can find. 

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Very Good ........ $995.00     SOLD!

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Reclining Dog / Irish Setter Figural Sewing Clamp w/ Pincushion This is only the third one of these unusual figural sewing clamps I have had in over 25 years of dealing in antiques and sewing birds / figural clamps and other sewing accessories.  I have seen just a few others in all that time offered for sale.  A rare bird, or dog in this instance!  

This figural sewing clamp has a great look, and great action.  The dog is sitting on his bed, that doubles as a pincushion or work holder.  You can open his mouth by pushing on the small lever between his feet.  This portion works fine.  It is approx 5" tall, and just over 3" long.  My understanding is that it was made under the same patent as the commonly seen patent dated sewing birds, but that these alternative forms were not popular back then and few were made.  It is not marked, but it is real, and a super rare piece, in super condition.  Opportunity is scratching at the door.

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Excellent - Very Good + ........ $1595.00     SOLD!

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Figural Elk / Reindeer Sewing Clamp w/ 2 Spool Pins This cast iron figural sewing clamp is a great piece of American folk art / Americana.  It transcends the category of sewing accessories and figural sewing clamps and is one of the nicest figural pieces of folk art I have ever handled. 

Look at the detail and construction of this rare piece.  It is truly a wonder that it survived intact the last 100 + years.  It is approx 9" tall, and just over 5" wide across the bone spool pins.  It is a one of a kind unique piece and will be a highlight and topic of conversation of any collection. 

A bit of provenance:  I first bought this sewing clamp about 20 years ago at a farm and engine show in the Midwest.  It was in a display case with a bunch of rare spark plugs and unusual wrenches.  It was not for sale.  It was on display.  I was impressed but also concerned as I knew the present owner was going to arrive the next day and he would be on this like........  I spent 3-4 hours with the fellow who owned it trying to get it out of the case.  He kept saying it was not for sale,  it was on display.  I kept asking why.  Finally I changed my tune and I made him an offer I can not even remember the details of.  It was substantial though, and he opened the case and handed it to me.  I held on to it for 2-3 years and then traded it for another great piece (a pencil sharpener) that was not for sale from the same fellow who was to show up the next day.   Now some 15 years later here it is again, and this time it has a price on it and trades are not an option.  A reindeer---think of it as a gift from Santa if you need an excuse.  A fleeting opportunity that will not repeat itself again for another 20 or more years if ever.   

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Excellent - Very Good + ........ $2975.00     SOLD!

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Cut Steel Thread Winder / Spool Sewing Clamp Cut steel is a medium that originated in Europe and is thought to have been introduced as early as the 16th century.   It has a great look, and it was mostly used for jewelry, pins, or buckles, and to find other objects in this medium is quite unusual.  This antique thread winder is about 6" tall and has a wonderful faceted design of leaves on a vine with faceted and polished edges that shimmer and "glows" in the light.  It is a wonderful example and displays very nicely.

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Very Good ........ $395.00     SOLD!

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Cast Brass Figural Scaly Dog / Creature Sewing Clamp w/ Hook This is a very interesting looking sewing clamp that has just the hook you see at the tail to use to hold the work---usually referred to as a netting hook.  It is only about 4" tall and is a great casting.  It looks like a mythical creature with a dog head and scales to me.  It is otherwise unmarked.  Interesting!

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Very Good + ........ $325.00     SOLD!    

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Antique Winged Cherub Gilded Brass Sewing Clamp Pincushion Cherubs were a favorite theme of the Victorian era.  This unusual brass sewing clamp has a beautiful winged cherub below the nicely decorated blue pincushion. The body is gilded and retains a lot of the original finish.  Note there is a hole through the body that would allow a user to tie off an accessory or work.  A nice added  touch.  It is about 6" tall, and the pin cushion about 2 1/4" diameter.  A very nice piece of Victorian era workmanship!!

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Very Good-Excellent ......... $395.00     SOLD!

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Antique Patented "Full Body Robin" Sewing Bird w/ Pincushion  This is a great looking antique sewing bird clamp.  It is known as the full bodied robin.  There is patent information under the tail that says "A. Gerould & Co. Patent".  There is a small pincushion under the neck and it is original and shows some wear.  A very graphic and good looking clamp that will display nicely. 

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Very Good ......... $200.00      SOLD!

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Marshall Field & Co. STERLING Silver Sewing Bird w/ 2 Pincushions This is one of the finest and rarest of the sewing bird clamps we have.  Do not mistake it for what you see offered elsewhere. 

This rare and unusual sewing clamp is marked "Marshall Field & Co." and "Sterling" inside the clamp portion.  It is solid sterling silver.  It is a variation I have never seen before.  

It is a great looking antique sewing clamp / bird with one pincushion below the bird.  This is the form or style sewing bird clamp that has been most widely copied and is still being made and sold today, but even a simple comparison reveals that this is a completely different piece than those.

The  bird itself is not just a thin sheet of brass.  The wings and body are silver and test to be silver.  This one does not have the patent date which the fakes one do have.  But this is the real one!  The pin cushion has been replaced.   The clamp portion is silver as well, and that is where this is marked with the name and Sterling.   The clamp potion is a very detailed and very well done.  The differences from new ones being sold are stark. 

Another special and rare sewing bird / clamp that will stand out from, and is heads and tails above, the rest of the flock!

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Excellent ........ $495.00      SOLD!

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2 Polished Steel / Wood & Ivory Thread Winders / Spool Winders These are very showy with their mix of materials and heart shaped thumb screws in the polished frames.  Thread winders like this would date from the 19th century or before.  These two examples are very nice.

Very Good ........ $250.00 / pr.     SOLD!

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Unusual Cast Brass / Bronze Sewing Bird  No longer are sewing birds what you would call common, but certainly the stamped brass ones tend to be those that are more frequently available.  If you have been at it for a while you know that the fun of assembling any collection is in adding pieces that are distinctly different from the others.  If you have all the common forms of sewing birds and you are looking for something that is definitely different, then this one is bound to fit the bill.  There is no doubt  that this sewing bird was made by an individual and probably done in the interest of economy---"Honey, I can make you one of those!"  The body of the bird is nicely executed and shows the attention to detail of an artist with its cross-hatched lines to simulate the feathers and two little bird eyes.  The bird as well as the pincushion holder have that certain charm exhibited by early hand-made pieces.  The clamping beak is strong and sturdy and was made to do the job.  I can't tell exactly what the metal that was used is, but it appears to be cast of a brass or bronze alloy and has a nice dark untouched patina.

Very Good..........$195.00     SOLD!

Figural Dog Sewing Clamp   The sewing clamp became the 19th century seamstress' third hand.  Fastened to a work table, it acted as a vise of sorts to securely hold the fabric being worked, enabling it to be held taut while being hand-stitched.   Manufacturers promoted the health-related benefits of these products, claiming they eliminating rounded shoulders and stooped backs while sewing, but clearly for the lady of comfortable means who could afford it, these needlework tools were pieces of art that were treasured symbols of status and were often given as tokens of love. Far rarer than the numerous variations of "sewing birds" were clamps in the shapes of animals and other  mythological creatures. Undoubtedly the figural dog clamp is one of the most sought-after of all the figural needlework clamps, and this puppy has been my personal favorite for years!   The body of this example displays fine nickel-over-brass patina as well as excellent detail.  The black silk fabric pincushion cover has been replaced, with the cushion itself being original.  If you are a collector of antique needlework tools, this is the piece that will put you in the top of your class!

Very Good..........$1295.00     SOLD!

Petite Brass Sewing Bird  This dainty example of the classic sewing bird form, with an unusual feather pattern design on the body, measures a mere 2 3/4" from beak to tail, and just 1 3/8" from wing to wing.  It is significantly smaller than the size that is most familiar to needlework collectors, and I have often wondered if it was meant to be used by a young child learning domestic arts.  It is guarantee old and genuine.

Very Good..........$195.00     SOLD!

Brass Victorian Sewing Bird  Perhaps the most classic of all sewing bird forms, this graceful example has a wonderful unpolished patina that only age can impart.  Unlike those imported reproductions which can be found on the market, this piece is guaranteed to be a genuine American antique.  The richly detail stamped-brass bird body measures3 1/2" from beak to tail, and 2" from wing to wing.

Very Good..........$195.00     SOLD!

BACK

This is just a sample of the many antiques we have sold. Click link to see other Sales Archive Pages on this Site.

We can help you sell quality Antiques  Contact Us.

For further info on consigning / selling your antiques with us please see our FAQ page, the Appraisal / Selling Page and the Selling Your Collection Pages.

Our current offering of Antiques for sale are at our sister Website Patented-Antiques.com.

This website is Copyrighted
(1998 - 2009)
Larry & Carole Meeker