These pillows or cushions are commonly referred to as christening pillows or cushions. Brandt & Cullman tell us that these wonderful pin cushions were hung on the front door to announce the arrival of a baby to friends and neighbors.1 I suspect that this pillow was given as gifts to the newborn's mother and were kept indoors. There is no indication that any ever had a ribbon for hanging. It is also interesting to note that these pillows could not be given to the mother until the baby's arrival because it was believed that the pins would cause more pain during delivery.
Steel pins form the sentiment
Heaven
blefs
Thy path
The pins are handmade in two parts. First, a wire was drawn, straightened, cut, one end was sharpened. and the other was ground to accept the the head. Then a handmade head was added (if you look with a loupe you can see that the head fits like a collar around the straight pin). Finally the entire pin was polished and the pins were placed in a paper packet for sale. By 1776, American pin factories were turning out 5000 pins per day.2
This beautiful pillow is hand sewn from a ivory-colored textured silk or cotton. The fringe double edge is made of lace. The pin decoration includes the inscription, stylized pine trees in the corners and a double arch in the middle of each edge. There is a diamond on either side of "blefs". Pins used for "H", "T", the backside of "y" and the ront of "p" are larger sized pins which accentuate those letters. The condition is very good with a few missing pins and corresponding pinholes and some light scattered stains on the back of the pillow. 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" not including the fringe. Circa first quarter of the 19th century.
(#5105) Sold
1Brant, Sandra & Cullman, Elissa, Small Folk A Celebration of Childhood in America. E.P. Dutton, New York, 1980. 43.
2How Products Are Made::Volume 7, Straight Pin. http://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Straight-Pin.html
Please see the Christening or Birth Pillows page for more information about these rare survivors.
