Needle Case
Unknown Artist
1800–1830
Medium
Ivory, gold
Dimensions
H. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)
Classification
Needle case
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Maria P. James, 1910
Accession Number
11.60.325a
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Needle Case**, crafted between 1800 and 1830, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of early American decorative arts. Standing just 3½ inches tall, it is fashioned from ivory—a prized material valued for its smooth carvability and luminous quality—adorned with gold accents that elevate its everyday utility into a work of art. Produced by an unknown artist during the Federal period, when the young United States embraced neoclassical elegance inspired by European traditions, such objects were essential tools for sewing, a cornerstone of domestic life. Ivory needle cases like th...