SOLD Scarce Set of Early-Mid 19th Century German Sail Needles with Wonderful Engraved Label 1865 or an artist

or an artist

I presume--construction to read these

would be it

which measures 10 inches in diameter

Maybe it held cheese

SOLD Scarce Set of Early-Mid 19th Century German Sail Needles with Wonderful Engraved Label 1865 or an artistAt the Boston Antiquarian Book Fair last week, I spotted some early sail needles very similar to this set in a vitrine (being sold alongside some other 19th c. nautical materials for a massive sum.) So when I came across these the next day at a show in Maine, I snatched them, mostly because I found the engraving on the label quite wonderful, and that hand inked "No. 5," too, but also as impetus to learn a bit about sail needles made, as self evident,