SOLD Scarce Set of Early-Mid 19th Century German Sail Needles with Wonderful Engraved Label 1865 It seems to me likely

It seems to me likely that this grasshopper is Japanese

but I've not seen an example

which measures 10 inches in diameter

and I love how the two smaller stars feels as if standing upon the shoulders of the larger one

SOLD Scarce Set of Early-Mid 19th Century German Sail Needles with Wonderful Engraved Label 1865 It seems to me likelyAt 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,