On FaceBook I found a story about tomatoes being put on mantels to bring prosperity, with perishable tomatoes eventually being replaced by tomato pincushions with attached strawberry emeries. Kathryn Newell rightfully questioned the story and sent me on a quest to confirm or refute it. I consulted following publications on needlework tools..
Although these pincushions were very common, I found
relatively few examples of tomato/strawberry pincushions/emeries; I suspect the
books focused on the more unusual/desirable.
I have included references to pinballs, because tomatoes may have been
derived from them (as indicated by Zann Carter’s Shaker derivation story), and
I included references to Shaker, Amish, and Mennonite pincushions, in case they
originated tomato pincushions. Zann also
contributed information about a superstition of tomatoes being put on the
hearth for prosperity, a story suspiciously similar to tomatoes being put on
the mantel for prosperity.
Knowing it is nearly impossible to disprove a negative, I
was really looking for confirmation.
Despite some of the publications telling origin stories, none repeated
the questionable story. However, there
is ample evidence that tomato and strawberry pincushions and emeries originated
in the Victorian era (1849-1901), and that tomato pincushions evolved from
earlier pinballs with the Victorian penchant for making pincushions look like fruits, vegetables, and numerous other novelty shapes.
---. Authentic Victoria Pincushions Originally Published 1896! Set #1
(2007) Dakota Prairie Treasures; Instructions
for making many late 19th century pincushions but no tomatoes or strawberries.
---. Authentic Victoria Pincushions Originally Published 1898! Set #2 (2007)
Dakota Prairie Treasures; depicts a
pincushion with two tomatoes on one stem.
---. Authentic Victoria Pincushions Originally Published 1901! Set #4 (2007)
Dakota Prairie Treasures; Instructions
for making many late 19th century pincushions but no tomatoes or strawberries.
---. Bonhams The Sewing Sale catalog (Dec 2001)
Bonhams, London, UK; many high-end
needlework tools including pincushions, but no tomatoes/strawberries.
---. Christie's Thimbles & Sewing Accessories
catalog (Jun 2000) Christie's, London, UK; only
cover pictures, only descriptions of seemingly exquisite needlework tools
including pincushions, but no tomatoes or strawberries.
---. Phillips Textiles catalog (Sep 1999) Phillips,
London, UK; textiles/laces, needlework
tools, & clothing/accessories, but no pincushions.
---. Weldon's Practical Pincushions (Originally
published ~1894 by Weldons Pub Co, London; 2009) Iva Rose Vintage
Reproductions, New Bedford, MA; (Set #3, subtitled: Originally Published
c1900!; 2006); republication by Dakota Prairie Treasures; Instructions for making many late 19th
century pincushions but no tomatoes or strawberries.
Andere, Mary. Old
Needlework Boxes & Tools Their Story and How to Collect Them
(1971) Drake Publishers Ltd., NY; “Pinballs
dated from the 1720 onwards were popular to mid-nineteenth century. The Victorian era was, perhaps the heyday of
the pincushion. They were made in every
conceivable shape. Fruits were much in
vogue, strawberries in particular, since their pitted surface lent itself to
reproductions by the use of pinheads studded into red velvet or silk.” No tomato pincushions mentioned.
Barker, Harold (compiler). A Pictorial Survey of Mostly American
Sewing Tools & Supplies (1835-1950) Volume I (1835-1908) (1998)
Harold Barker, Ada, OH; This book is a
compilation of numerous advertisements and articles organized only by
date. Two strawberry emeries dated 1893
& 1894 depicted.
Bowles, Ella Shannon. Homespun Handicrafts (1931)
J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia & London; with chapters on spinning, weaving, knitting, embroidery, quilts,
rug-making Netting, & lace, includes tools; but no pincushions.
Burgess, Fred. W. Chats on Household Curios (c1914);
Frederick A. Stokes Co., NY; pp 223-250 chapter: "The Old
Workbox" includes spinning wheels and numerous "Little
Accessories" for lace-making, cutting, knitting, pins, & pincushions,
but no tomato/strawberry pincushions/emeries.
Burn, Diane Pelham. Sew Precious & Children's
Needlework Tools & Dolls' Sewing Tools (2010) Diane Pelham Burn, UK;
Children's & dolls' needlework tools
of all sorts; depicts a couple tomato pincushions & several strawberry
emeries, but not mentioned in text.
Burn, Diane Pelham. Sew Small & Children's
Needlework Tools (1995-Thimble Collectors Intn'l, 2010) Mintsalad Design,
UK; Children's needlework tools of all
sorts, however pincushions are barely mentioned and no tomato/strawberry
pincushions/emeries mentioned.
Clement, Joyce. Official
Price Guide to Sewing Collectibles (1987) House of Collectables, NY; all types of needlework tools, including
small chapters on crochet tools, threads, & thread holders; pincushions are
barely mentioned, however no tomato/strawberry pincushions/emeries mentioned.
Colby, Averil. Pincushions (1975) B.T.Batsford Ltd.,
London & Sydney; no tomato/strawberry
pincushions/emeries mentioned.
Franklin, Linda Campbell. 300 Years of Housekeeping
Collectibles (1992) Books Americana, Florence, AL; includes sewing/mending tools, auto knitter, & laundering tools;
but no pincushions.
Gaussen, Elaine. Miller’s
Sewing Accessories & A Collector’s Guide (2001) Octopus Pub.
Group, Ltd., London; sewing accessories
of all types, including a small number of crochet hooks, spool knaves and
pincushions, but no tomato/strawberry pincushions/emeries mentioned.
Gengelbach, Darlene J. Encyclopedia of Children's Sewing
Collectibles Identification & Values Sewing Sets Dolls Books
Patterns (2007) Collector Books, Paducah, KY; mostly sewing, but also knitting, crochet, weaving, books &
patterns; depicts “a small hinged sewing stand, like many used in the 1930s”
with tomato pincushion; and a “1957 Junior Miss Embroidery Case” with mini
tomato/strawberry pincushion & emery.
Gower, Jolynn (Acquisitions Editor). Notions & Over
50 Great Gadgets You Can't Live Without (2000) Taunton Press, Inc, Newtown,
CT; no tomato/strawberry
pincushions/emeries mentioned.
Groves, Sylvia. The
History of Needlework Tools & Accessories 2nd impr. (1968) Country
Life Books, Feltham, Middlesex, UK; all
types of needlework including tambour, crochet & knitting tools; regarding
pincushions/emeries: “Nothing was too fanciful for these engaging trifles…”
“The Victorian age abounded with pincushions.” Two tomato-style pincushions are
depicted.
Gullers, Barbara D. Antique
Sewing Tools & Tales (1992) Gullers Pictorial Partnership, Phoenix, AZ;
stories about textile tools and beautiful photos of exquisite needlework
tools including a small selection of crochet & tambour hooks and yarn &
thread holders but no tomato/strawberry pincushions or emeries.
Houart, Victor. Sewing Accessories & An
Illustrated History (1984) Souvenir Press Ltd., London; Miscellaneous tools including pincushions and
emeries: “Most of the fanciful pincushion containers were made in the shape of
fruit (mainly strawberries), flowers, … “
“[emery cushions] went out of fashion in the early 1920s when needles
and pins were made in stainless steel.”
[Although I bought at least one tomato pincushion with attached
strawberry in the early 1960s.—Karen Ballard]
Jeffords, Mignon S. Sharing Sewing Sets (1984) B.F.
Long Printing Co., Spartanburg, SC; etuis,
necessaires, chatelaines, etc.; two strawberry emeries, one on a chatelaine,
pictured.
Johnson, Eleanor. Needlework & Embroidery Tools
(1999) Shire Pubs Ltd., Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, UK; “Another type of cushion…is the emery
cushion”… “One type often met is a small fabric or knitted strawberry decorated
with small yellow beads to add realism.” Two tomato pincushions are pictured.
Johnson, Eleanor. Needlework
Tools Shire 38 (1978-83) Shire Pubs., Ltd., Aylesbury, Bucks, UK; includes numerous needlework tools,
including a strawberry emery and a tomato-like pincushion; no text about them.
Longman, E.D. & Loch, S. Pins & Pincushions
(1911) Longmans. Green & Co., London, NY, Bombay & Calcutta; about pins of all types including hairpins,
pincushions, & related superstitions/customs/charms; includes a large section on late eighteenth
century pinballs, but no mention of tomato/strawberry pincushions/emeries in
the 35 page chapter on pincushions.
McConnel, Bridget. The
Story of Antique Needlework Tools (1999) Shiffer Pub. Co., PA; all types of needlework tools including a
small number of crochet/tambour hooks, thread holders, pincushions, &
emeries. “Pin-balls are a very typical
eighteenth century item.” Pictured: two leather tomato-shaped pincushions &
one strawberry emery.
Proctor, Molly.
Needlework Tools & Accessories & A Collector’s Guide
(1990) B.T. Batsford, London; covers all
types of needlework tools including pincushions: “…there are so many variations [of
pincushions] this [categorizing] is almost impossible.” “From 1880-1910 pincushions were made into
realistic shapes using patterns printed in journals.” However no tomatoes or strawberries mentioned
or depicted.
Rogers, Gay Ann. An Illustrated History of Needlework
Tools (1983, 4th printing 1991) John Murray, London; includes sewing & threadwork tools including pincushions; “By the
eighteenth century the small pincushion worn suspended from the waist had
evolved into two major types associated with nineteenth century pincushions:
the pinball and the disc.” … “In the nineteenth century needlewomen made
pincushions in every shape from stars, flowers, vegetables, and animals of
every type.” “Emeries usually came in small sizes, often in fanciful imitation
of berries or of miniature fruit.”
Pictured: 2 tomato-style pincushions, a strawberry emery with silver
cap, and a small tomato emery.
Rogers, Gay Ann. Price Guide to An Illustrated History of
Needlework Tools (1989) Needlework Unlimited, Claremont, CA; includes prices for the pictured pincushions
and emeries.
Sommer, Elyse. Textile
Collector’s Guide & Valuables… Usables… Reusables (1978)
Monarch, NY; includes a small section on
textile tools of all sorts including pincushions, but no tomato/strawberry
pincushions/emeries.
Souder, Mattie. Notions (1922) The Ronald Press Co.,
NY; includes contemporary sewing tools
& notions, but no pincushions or emeries.
Taunton, Nerylla. Antique
Needlework Tools & Embroideries (1997) Antiques Collectors’ Club Ltd.,
Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK; needlework
tools, including some crochet/tambour hooks, thread holders, & pincushions;
but no tomato/strawberry pincushions/emeries.
Thompson, Helen Lester Sewing Tools & Trinkets
Vol 1 (1997) Collector Books, Paducah, KY; numerous
needlework tools including pincushions.
Doesn’t have any text about tomato/strawberry pincushions or emeries, but
depicts several of each from the 1900s-1930s, including 3 Mennonite “make-do”
large strawberry pincushions with multiple smaller hanging strawberries hanging
from each, on wine glass & compote cup bases.
Thompson, Helen Lester Sewing Tools & Trinkets
Vol 2 (2002) Collector Books, Paducah, KY; numerous
needlework tools including pincushions.
Doesn’t have any text about tomato/strawberry pincushions or emeries,
but depicts several of each from the 1900s-1930s.
Whiting, Gertrude. Tools
& Toys of Stitchery (1928) Columbia University Press, NY; reprinted
as: Old-Time Tools & Toys of
Needlework (1971) Dover Pubs., Inc., NY; Book contains information & photos of many types of needlework
implements including pincushions. “Most
of us are familiar with red felt tomato shaped pincushions.” Whiting goes on to
describe one purchased at “a neighborhood fair” owned by a friend of hers.
Zalkin, Estelle. Thimbles & Sewing Implements
(1988) Wallace-Homestead, Radnor, PA; Needlework
tools of all types, including pincushions and emeries; “Ball-shaped pin
cushions featuring an attached cord or ribbon were fashionable as early as the
seventeenth century.” … “Shaker pincushions usually are made…in the shape of a
heart or triangle…a pattern and instructions for a pin ball appears in Godey’s
Lady’s Book in 1885.” … “Pin cushions took many new shapes as the nineteenth
century ended. The tomato shape is the
most common, often with a strawberry shaped emery attached.” … “The most common
shape for an emery is a strawberry, often covered with bright red fabric,
usually silk…”; Pictured: a tomato pincushion with strawberry emery fitted into
an oversized pewter thimble, 1 tomato and numerous strawberry emeries.
Magazine
Articles on Needlework Tools:
Barry, Elizabeth. "Sew Collectible" Sew News
(Mar 1999); includes sewing machines, toy
sewing machines, buttons, & sewing notions. Including pincushions — very
general information on sewing tools; with no mention of tomato/strawberry
pincushions/emeries.
Beetler, Dianne L. "'Sew-Sew' Collection" Antiques
& Auction News (Sept 18, 1987); no
mention of tomato/strawberry pincushions/emeries.
Bishop, Lisa Mullins. "Gifts for Girls" Early
American Life Vol.XXVI, No.1 (Feb 1995); mostly needlework tools but no pincushions.
Carlisle, Lillian Baker "Beadwork Whimsies" Spinning
Wheel (Sept. 1964); no pictures but
text mentions pincushions: “What of the bead pen-wipes, needle-books,
strawberry emery cushions and pincushions with a known history of having been
made in the home by a member of one’s family?
Where did the ladies find their patters for their work? They located them in the ladies’ magazines –
in Godey’s, Peterson’s, Graham’s Illustrated, and in the Lady’s Friend. During the 1850s and 1860s, many patterns for
these items were given as suggestions for ornamental and useful sale articles
for Fancy Fairs. They were made in all
shapes…from silk, satin, cashmere, velvet; they were stuffed with tow, cotton
wadding, wool, or bran.
Hubbard, Clarence T. "Hair Wreaths & Samplers of
Yore" Antiques Journal (Oct 1970); Includes needlework tools; pictured: a large strawberry emery c1870.
Hurt, Zuelia Ann. "Craft Tools -- Then &
Now" Decorating & Craft Ideas --Pincushions (Mar 1980);
“The pinball style remained popular
longer than any other. The ever-present
tomato pincushion of today can trace its root back to this shape. The remainder of its heritage comes from the
Victorian era when fruits, vegetables, … and a multitude of novelty subjects
turned into pincushions.”
Litz, Joyce. "Sewing is Ancient Art / Pins &
Needles Intrigue Collectors" The Antique Journal (June 1974); Pictured: c1900 strawberry emery. “Other Victorian pincushions have taken the
form of a jockey cap, a basket, velvet strawberries…”
Matthiesen, Agnes. "Treasures From Grandmother's Sewing
Basket" Spinning Wheel (May/June 1983); no pincushions, emeries barely mentioned, mostly crochet hooks.
Mebane, John. "Pincushions for Collectors" Antiques
Journal (Dec 1968); “There were
scores of inexpensive nineteenth century pincushions…many in the shape of such
things as tomatoes and strawberries.”
Murphy, Catherine (editor). "Price Guide to Antiques"
Antiques Trader "Sewing Adjuncts" (Dec/Jan 1993); Shows values for a few tomato/strawberry
pincushions/emeries. I also consulted: "Sewing
Adjuncts" Vol.9, No.4, Issue 30 (Winter 1978); "Sewing Adjuncts"
(Dec/Jan 1994); "Sewing Adjuncts (n.d.), but no tomato/strawberry
pincushions/emeries found in them.
Nazzaro, Joe. "Pinning Down the Past" Country
Victorian Decorating & Lifestyle
(Feb/Mar 1994); About pincushions with mottos, no
tomato/strawberry pincushions/emeries.
Reed, Robert. "Stitches in Time" American
Country Collectibles (Nov 1992) Pincushions
barely mentioned; no tomato/strawberry pincushions or emeries.
Ryan, Amy H. "Pincushions" McCall's Needlework
(Dec 1994); Pincushions sometimes had
their own accessories – emeries...The most common shape was a strawberry made
from bright red fabric one can still see strawberry emeries attached to the
tomato pincushions that are so popular at the present time.
Schiffer, Margaret. "Needlework Accessories" Antiques
(Sept 1962); pincushions mentioned, but
no tomato/strawberry pincushions or emeries.
Shaffer, Sandra C. "Sewing Tools in the Collection of
Colonial Williamsburg" Antiques (Aug 1973); depicts one "18th century or 19th century" tomato-style pincushion on a silver base.
Swan, Susan Burrows. "Collecting Sewing
Implements" Early American Life (June 1979); Pincushions included, but no tomatoes/strawberries.
Thompson, Frances. "Old Needlework Sought" Antique
Monthly (Aug 1979); Doesn’t include
pincushions.
Whittenmore, Edwin C. "Pins & Pincushions" Spinning
Wheel (March 1966); Depicts various
vegetable & fruit pincushions, but no pictures or text of tomatoes or
strawberries.
Zalkin, Estelle. "1800s Seamstress Wielded Waxers,
Emeries" Antique Week (Jan 15, 1990); “Emeries were made in a variety of shapes, the most common is the 1 ½
inch strawberry. Others include the carrot, acorn, and heart. Sometimes the strawberry-, acorn-, or
tomato-shaped emeries were capped with silver.”
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