Beaded heart pincushion
Front
Name/Title
Beaded heart pincushionEntry/Object ID
2023.4.14Description
Heart-shaped beaded pincushion. Center appliqué depicts logo of The Royal Fusiliers. Pom-poms border the shape of the heart. Two patches sewn to the top left and top right with poem that reads, "Think of me / When the golden sun is sinking and your mind from care set free / When of others you are thinking will you sometimes think of me."Context
Perhaps the most prominent type of historical pincushions are the wartime examples, in particular those from World War I. Often referred to as “sweethearts” or “sailor’s hearts,” these pincushions were heavily decorated with beads, sequins, and inscriptions, and would typically feature the badge, crest, or other insignia of a military regiment or ship. There are several possibilities as to who was making and receiving these special objects. Some sources say that they were made by soldiers while away – a form of textile and craft therapy while in the trenches of war – to send back home to their loved ones. Other sources say that they were made for the soldiers by a loved one so that the heart of home could accompany them while away. Another possibility is that they were made to be commemorative – not to travel at all, but to be displayed in the home, like a photograph or a letter. What is universally accepted by all sources, however, is that these pincushions were heart-shaped to represent the love of a soldier who was missed.Category
Pincushions