This is a wonderful Georgian Layette Pincushion made as a gift to welcome a new baby. Layette pincushions like these were once customary presents for a new mother, and were most popular between about 1770 and 1890. They  were usually given after the baby had arrived, as there was a superstitious belief that they could increase the pain felt by the mother during birth: 'For every pin a pain' and 'More pins, more pain'. At a time when many problems could arise during childbirth, some felt that it was taking too much for granted to give birth presents before the baby had safely arrived. Layette pincushions were in some ways the equivalent of the birth congratulation cards sent today, as the pins were often arranged to show good wishes, sometimes in verse as on this one where the verse is  "May every blefsing Your sweet babe attend And may it never loose Nor want a friend." There is a decorative border of pins around the verse and more pins around the edge. The Cushion is made of white cotton covered with Ivory colour silk. There is another Silk panel on the front which seems to be held in place by the steel pins and has a tasselled fringe , I think the border has been made by pulling threads from the fabric.There is a decorative pattern of holes on the back in the form of wavy lines and also around the verse in diamond and heart shapes. I am not sure if this originally had pins in and they have been used or if it is purely extra decoration. The pins were probably used to fasten the baby clothes. Pins were hand made until around 1830 and extremely expensive. The Pin cushion is in good condition, there are some tears to the fringing, 2 small splits to the Silk on the back and one 4" section of the seam on one side  has become unstitched and needs resewing.The Pin cushion would benefit from being framed to prevent more damage. I think it probably dates to 1800-1815 and is a really wonderful object. Size: 7.5" x5.25" x2.5" high approx.

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