Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - September 7, 1986
By Helen M. Fagg
Vigo County Historical Society

Antique sewing birds decorative, functional

What is a sewing bird?

The Century Dictionary offers the following description: "The sewing bird is a clamp used by women to hold fabrics in place while sewing by hand. The bird is screwed to the edge of the table and its beak, which closes on a spring, can be opened by a lever actuated by the tail so that it holds the material."

During the reign of Queen Victoria, sewing was considered the most elegant of women's accomplishments. Many fascinating accessories for needlework were introduced. The sewing bird was one such item.

In English catalogues the sewing birds came under the heading of steel toys and were called "Ladies Netting Devices." They were used extensively in Europe and England during the 18th and 19th centuries, but didn't come into common usage in America until about 1840.

After the invention of the sewing machine they were no longer of such importance and seem to have simply outlived their usefulness. Like many other small household articles, they probably were thrown out with the trash. Today, they are rarely found, especially in the Midwest.

The earliest birds were carved from wood, but the majority were made of cast iron, pot metal, brass or brass with a silver plating.

Not all "birds" were in the form of birds. They also were made in the shape of dolphins, butterflies, serpents, frogs and stags. Some were of a simple box design.

The method of holding the material with the mouth was about the same on all of the birds. All were held in place with a vise-like clamp.

In the Hartford Times of June 5, 1852, Elihu Geer, a merchant, advertised: "Ladies Sewing Birds--the latest invented and most useful article for the use of the ladies that can be found." This description was accompanied by a picture of two ladies sitting by a table, one using a sewing bird and the other holding her sewing on her lap.

In the Hartford Calendar of Dec. 18, 1852, Geer again advertised: "Sewing Birds, six kinds, from 37 1/2 cents to 62 cents." In 1853, the ad read: "Sewing Birds--Twelve different kinds."

In America, from 1853 on, the designs were protected by patents. Many were made in Connecticut and some were made in Maine. In fact, the novelty departments in most of the steel companies in America produced some form of sewing bird. In all, there were 160 different types. Many were marked with the patent date, but few have the name of the maker.

The two sewing birds in the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley are found in the dressmaker's shop on the second floor. The are designs of birds with open wings and interesting feather detail.

One bird has the emery cushion and the other has the pincushion under the beak. They are of stamped brass coated with silver.

The donor of these two extremely rare items is unknown.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.