I purchased this whole lot from a great dealer in my neck of the woods, and just love looking at them all together in all of their variation. Used for making lace, making holes in fabric or leather, and many other seamstress tasks, bodkins were often made by sailors as gifts to bring home for mothers and sisters and sweethearts. I believe these date to the 19th century and represent a mix of ivory and whale bone. Three of them are carved with crosshatching at the wide end so would have been used as wax seals. As evident, many show significant darkening, more on one side than the other—I have to think related to how they must have been stored over many years.
Average length about 3 inches. I have thoroughly documented them from all sides to show discoloration on some, more pronounced on one side. The five central bright white ones show no discoloration. A couple of them feature small holes near the top such that one could wear as a pendant.
You might also like
