Victorian Tunbridgeware Sewing Clamp with Bowl Pin Cushion – “A Friend’s Gift” Label, c.19th Century

A charming Victorian Tunbridgeware sewing clamp, featuring a classic C-frame design with turned detailing and a shallow bowl-shaped pin cushion at the top. The pin cushion has been neatly refilled with a modern replacement, in keeping with the piece’s original function and appearance.

Made from richly toned wood with fine grain, this piece is typical of 19th-century Tunbridgeware craftsmanship, most likely from the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent, known for its intricate inlaid woodwork and decorative sewing accessories.

An original oval paper label reading "A Friend’s Gift" remains affixed to the clamp body — a sentimental touch that adds to its period charm and suggests it was once given as a thoughtful token to a fellow needleworker.

There are some light surface marks and scratches consistent with age and use, but no structural damage. The original oval label remains intact and legible. Overall, the piece is in good antique condition, displaying beautifully.

A well-proportioned and decorative sewing item that also serves as a collectible piece of social history.