Staying Sharp with Strawberries

Staying Sharp with Strawberries

Strawberry Emeries

Strawberries are ubiquitous summer fruits that pop with their bright red color and juicy sweet taste. No wonder they became the subject of “fancywork” during the Victorian era. But the strawberry emery predates the Victorian era.

Strawberry pincushions and emeriesThe tomato pincushion with strawberry emery became an extremely popular design during the Victorian Era. This Threads article addresses the question of “Why the tomato? According to folklore, placing a tomato on the mantle of a new home guaranteed prosperity and repelled evil spirits. If tomatoes were out of season, families improvised by using a round ball of red fabric filled with sand or sawdust. The good-luck symbol also served a practical purpose—a place to store pins.” Although this folklore is also cited in a number of places, no specific reference is available to the origin of this folklore.

There is some belief that the tomato shaped pincushion can be traced to the Shakers. Shaker goods looked like what they were, and the Shakers therefore did not make pincushions that were decorated like tomatoes; however, the tomato shape became common in their pincushions. A reference to “tomato cushions” can be found in 1861 in the New Lebanon NY Shaker community.

Strawberries vary widely – in color, shape and decoration. Some strawberries are relatively plain while some have decorated tops and embroidered seeds. Occasionally they aren't red. Collecting these small artifacts can be fun, relatively inexpensive and don't take up much room. Dating a strawberry is usually done based on the fabric. Prices will vary based on style, condition and age.

Search for strawberry, emery, pincushion and more on Dig Antiques.

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