Catalog: Antiques: Instruments and Implements: Sewing (1)

A rare Georgian whiskey barrel figural string holder. This superb, unusual vintage Georgian whiskey or ale cask figural string holder is from the 1800-30 era. String was a valuable and useful item in the Georgian home, and this holder could also have held embroidery thread for sewing. Made of beautifully figured rosewood with a great patina and trimmed with gilt brass bands held with hand made nails, this string dispenser has a detailed brass spigot through which the string emerges. There is a mounted steel cutting blade in the form of the spigot's handle, and the whole barrel sits on a rosewood plinth. The workmanship is superb, and it has remnants of a velvet-covered bottom. The base measures 3-7/8" x 2-7/8" and it stands 3-1/2" high. Made for a well-to-do household, this holder is in excellent original condition with no corrosion, losses, damage or repairs other than some age shrinkage of the wood causing the brass bands to sit a bit above the wood surface, some minor loss to the gilding and some minor age cracks to the rosewood base. All items are thoroughly and conservatively graded and all condition issues are noted; all items are vintage or antique and may have slight signs of gentle use. Expedited tracked and insured parcel shipping to the U.S. starts at $25 (other spots may vary, air is higher). Items paid with a credit card will be shipped to confirmed addresses only. We do ship internationally. All of our prices are in $US. PLEASE NOTE: We DO NOT accept PayPal.