Sewing Basket from the 1860s

I thought people might like a peep at this little gem - a sewing basket surviving from the 1860s. It is made of plaited raffia woven on cane, with a cane finish.

Unfortunately it has had a bit of a hard life, and the blue kalcomine (which is a water-based paint, and sometimes all that was available) doesn't show it off to its best advantage. But it is still a little gem, and may have been the most precious item (maybe outside of jewellery), that its owner had. Because although sewing machines were around, at the time this was made they were not all that common.

It is in the collection of Old Gippstown.