Victorian Scottish Tartanware Needle Case “Caledonia”, c. 1860–1880
Victorian Scottish Tartanware Needle Case “Caledonia”, c. 1860–1880
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Book-like and barely bigger than a matchbox, this was made to live in a sewing basket or a reticule and be pulled out whenever a needle was wanted.
A Victorian Scottish tartanware needle case in the Caledonia pattern, lacquered over a wooden core. It hinges open to its original felt needle pad, and the interior is lined in purple silk. Silk was not the standard lining on tartanware of this period, so this one was made a step above the plainest examples.
Tartanware was the souvenir of Victorian Scotland. Highland romance had taken hold, the railways brought tourists north, and small useful objects came home covered in tartan by the thousand. Most were worked up in and around Mauchline in Ayrshire, where the trade ran for the better part of a century before a factory fire ended most of it.
Compact enough for a dressing table, and it still opens and closes the way it should.
The lacquered tartan exterior displays surface wear, light scuffing, and small areas of finish loss, particularly along the edges and corners.
The interior purple silk lining shows discoloration, staining, and wear from use.
The original felt needle pad is present and shows age toning and surface wear.
The hinge functions properly and the case remains structurally sound, opening and closing as intended.
Sold empty. No needles are included.
Please review all photographs closely, as they form part of this description. Sold as-is; photos govern.
Shipping & Returns
All antique and vintage items are shipped from our warehouse in Bluffdale, Utah. Each piece is carefully packed by hand using archival materials and custom crating when necessary.
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Important Info About Antique & Vintage
Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.
Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.
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