Antique Edwardian Sterling Silver Pin Cushion Shoe 1909 Chester rare big (3056)

Antique Edwardian Sterling Silver Pin cushion in the form of a man's shoe. Made Chester, England, 1909. 

Measurements: Rare large size - measures 5 inches long.

Realistically modelled as a man's shoe.  Makes you want to thread the laces through the empty lace holes. Beautiful modelling. Silver is stretched over the pincushion with original cushion. There are a few tiny holes in the cushion where pins were once placed.   Wood base - also beautifully modelled and with great patina.  

Marks and Metal: The inside has the Registered  mark REGd 548813. Outside is fully hallmarked with Chester town mark, sterling silver lion mark, date mark (J) and maker's mark B & S. Ltd. There is one more mark that is unidentified.

Condition is very good. 

THE STORY: during the late Victorian and Edwardian era, novelty luxury items were a huge trend. Since every woman, from the maid to the genteel aristocrat did needlework, it comes as no surprise that pincushions in various forms were a fun and humorous way of presenting a practical item. Every woman needed a pin cushion, but only the wealthy could afford a large, sterling silver pin cushion made in the form a large man's shoe. Other forms were often animals, which are also collected by sewing memorabilia fans. Since the cushion itself was made of cloth, it's a great advantage to this shoe that the original cloth has survived for well over a century.