Lists of Avery needle cases discovered after Ruth Mann's 1990 book
Here are the 34 needle cases that were listed in Ruth Mann’s book, but with no photographs of the actual needle cases. To date photographs of all
of these have been found. (Number, Needle Case Name and Type of Needle Case Listed in Mann’s book)
1. Arts and Industry - Figurals
2. Barrel on Stand - now called Butter Churn - Figurals
3. Bow and Arrows on Heart - Figurals
4. Bower (with the interior child on a swing) - Figurals
5. British Flag Box - Figurals
6. Dog in Kennel - Figurals
7. Dog on Plinth - Figurals
8. Dome Top Box - now called Metallic Pin Box - Figurals
9. Flat Iron - Figurals
10. Lap Desk with Royal Portraits - Figurals
11. Leaning Tower of Pisa - Figurals
12. Lion Lying on Plinth - Figurals
13. Locket - Figurals
14. Peacock Needle Case - Figurals
15. Picture in Cruciform Frame - Figurals
16. Pine Cones - now called Fir Cones - Figurals
17. Seated Cherub with Book - Figurals
18. Shield with Stag Head - Figurals
19. Star - Figurals
20. Swan - Figurals
21. Windmill - Figurals
22. Abel Morrall - Non-Figural – Needle Packages
23. Golden Needle Case - Non-Figural – Needle Packages
24. Kwikso (misspelled as Kwickso in Mann’s book) - Non-Figural – Needle Packages
25. Silver Needle Case - Non-Figural – Needle Packages
26. Duplex Needle Case - Non-Figural – Deluxe
27. Quadruple – Gay & Son - Non-Figural - Quadruples
28. Demi - Quad - Helen - Bent Arm with Wreath - Non-Figural – Demi-Quads
29. Palace Needle Case - Non-Figural – Deluxe
30. Pocket Pin Case - Non-Figural – Deluxe
31. Hector - Non-Figural - Rectangles
32. Chinoiserie - Non-Figural -Squares
33. Pavillion - Non-Figural - Cylinders
34. Alliance - Non-Figural - Cylinders
Here is a list of the 50 newly discovered Avery needle cases that were not mentioned in Ruth Mann’s book. (Number, Needle Case Name, Year Patented and
Needle Case Style)
1. Quadruple - Eclectic - Bent Arm on Shield - 1868 Quadruple
2. Quadruple-Eclectic - Lion on Shield - 1868 Quadruple
3. Quadruple-Lady Mayoress of London - 1868 Quadruple
4. Quadruple-Needle Casket - Fleur-de-lis- 1868 Quadruple
5. Quadruple-Nickel Silver - Plain with no decoration- 1868 Quadruple
6. Quadruple-Sterling Silver - Christmas Gift - 1868 Quadruple
7. Quadruple-Sterling Silver - Crest with Flower - 1868 Quadruple
8. Quadruple-Sterling Silver - Floral Pattern- 1868 Quadruple
9. Quadruple-Sterling Silver - Geometric Pattern - 1868 Quadruple
10. Quadruple-Sterling Silver - Plain with no Decoration - 1868 Quadruple
11. Quadruple-Sterling Silver Scroll Pattern- 1868 Quadruple
12. Quadruple-Unknown Building - 1868 Quadruple
13. Demi- Quad - Helen Oval Decoration- 1869 Demi-Quad
14. Demi Quad - Minerva - 1869 Demi-Quad
15. Demi Quad - Nilsson - 1869 Demi-Quad
16. Bath Chair - patent not found Figural
17. Beehive Skep -1879 Figural
18. Bellows - 1868 Figural
19. Bird Cage - 1875 patent only Figural
20. Goat with Panniers - no patent found Figural
21. Guitar - 1878 Figural
22. Lap Desk - Oval Cartouche- no patent found Figural
23. Lighthouse with Boat - 1878 Figural
24. Looking Glass - 1877 Figural
25. Maltese Cross with Folding Arms - 1875 Figural
26. Mantle Clock- no patent found Figural
27. Needle and Cotton Bag - 1877 patent only Figural
28. Oval Tub – Kaiser Wilhelm I Bust - 1872 Figural
29. Penny Stamp – Rowland Hill Portrait - 1874 Figural
30. Punch and Judy Theater - 1882 Figural
31. Rolling Pin - 1887 patent only Figural
32. Sewing Beetle on Plinth - 1873 Figural
33. Table Swivel Mirror - patent not found Figural
34. Water Pump with Trought - 1979 Figural
35. Albert Needle Case - patent not found Flat
36. Christmas Pincer - 1870 Flat
37. Double Palmette - 1872 patent only Flat
38. Floral Bouquet Pincer - 1870 Flat
39. Golden Casket Fountain - 1868 Flat
40. Hermetical - patent not found Flat
41. La Belle - patent not found Flat
42. La Facile - 1971 Flat
43. Ladies Needle Album - 1871 Flat
44. Metal Ribbon - 1876 patent only Flat
45. Patent Lever - 1868 Flat
46. Silver Casket Diamond - 1868 Flat
47. Silver Casket Headless Cross - 1868 Flat
48. Silver Casket Toronto - 1868 Flat
49. Single Palmette - 1872 patent only Flat
50. Victoria with Windmill and Horse - 1870 Flat
To date 227 Avery style needle cases have been discovered. Visit these pages to see photographs of each design as
well as the original design registration or patent and gain knowledge about variations within each design.
In 2013 an Avery Survey was created in order to gather as much information as possible about Avery style needle cases
from collectors and interested parties around the world. The Avery Survey is easy to complete and gives you a chance to
contribute to this important research. Be sure and stop here to see the survey results.
Learn how the author turned a hobby cross stitching antique sampler reproductions into a passion for collecting Avery
needle cases resulting in a published book, a Wikipedia article, a TCI Bulletin article
and conference presentation and this website.
The companion books to Estelle Horowitz and Ruth Mann’s “Victorian Brass Needlecases” have finally been written. Visit this page to
learn more about how to order Terry Meinke's four books "A Guide to Collecting Avery Needle Cases - Third Edition" published in 2023, "Histories of the
Redditch Area Manufacturers Associated with Avery Needle Cases" published in 2020, "Histories of the
Birmingham Area Companies Associated with Avery Needle Cases" published in 2022, "Histories of the
London Area Companies Associated with Avery Needle Cases" published in 2023, and “My Avery Needle Case Collection”
published in April 2012.
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