Antique Vegetable Ivory Windmill Pin Cushion/Thimble Case & Tape Measure * C1890

Description

Antique Vegetable Ivory Windmill Pin Cushion
/ Thimble Case & Tape Measure
English * Circa 1890s
This is the most fascinating piece of vegetable ivory I've ever seen. It's made in the form of a windmill and incorporates a pin cushion, a tape measure and a space to hold a thimble. I think it could be one of a kind and was perhaps made by the carver for a child. The silk cushion is intact and original and stuck with old pins. It unscrews in the middle and contains a child's steel thimble. The top is the tape measure and turning the windmill sails winds the tape back in
(works perfectly)
. It has the original red silk tape, marked in inches (starts at 1").
The top platform and the bottom have small 'drying flaws'. These occur when the nut material dries out over the years.
The condition is otherwise excellent with no chips or damage.  It measures 4 3/4" high and the pinwheel base is 1 1/2" in diameter. The little steel thimble is is great condition with no holes or damage. It's about an American child's size 3 (12 mm diameter opening).
Vegetable Ivory comes from the corozo nut of a South American palm tree. It has the hardness and texture of ivory and the warm honey color appealed to the Victorians.
The dark spots and ivory like grain are also natural features of this material.
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