Name/Title
Ornate Sewing StilettosEntry/Object ID
2025.71.11Description
Three sewing stilettos made of sterling silver with ornate handles. Tools with ornate handles such as these were very popular in the late 19th century.Use
Stilettos such as these are used for a variety of tasks in sewing such as holding down fabric, especially as it goes through a sewing machine, however the two stilettos at the top and bottom of the image are specifically for eyelet punching. These stilettos were used to punch eyelets in fabric and the gauges, attached to the shaft with a thumb screw, helped to regulate the size of the holes based on how far the stiletto was allowed to go through the fabric.Collection
Charles Thebault CollectionLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
StilettoNomenclature Primary Object Term
Tool, Fabric PiercingNomenclature Sub-Class
Needleworking EquipmentNomenclature Class
Textileworking T&ENomenclature Category
Category 04: Tools & Equipment for MaterialsLocation
Location
* Untyped Location
Archives U1-C-5Category
PermanentDate
August 17, 2025Provenance
Provenance Detail
Belonged to Charles ThebaultCreated By
Kearney, QuinlanCreate Date
August 17, 2025Updated By
Kearney, QuinlanUpdate Date
August 17, 2025