Collecting PINCUSHIONS
No sewing box is complete without a pincushion. This simple tool spans folk art and high fashion, from humble pincushions made from fabric scraps to luxury models by top silversmiths. Robert Bush, a dealer in antique silver, explains what makes them so collectable: ‘Sometimes people are collectors of sewing tools, or they collect the work of the innovative silversmith Sampson Mordan, who invented the first self-propelling pencil and patented other clever new items, including pincushions. But lots of collectors are just passionate about pincushions. They’re small, tactile and have loads of personality. And unlike guitars or vintage cars, you can fit quite a big collection nicely on the single shelf of
