Victorian Cast Brass Sewing Bird Clamp – c.1860 Ornate Pincushion Clamp

This exquisite Victorian sewing bird is a beautifully detailed example of a 19th-century sewing clamp, made from cast brass and designed to secure fabric while hand stitching. The bird's beak opens and closes via a spring mechanism, allowing it to grip fabric gently but firmly — a clever innovation in an era before sewing machines were common in every home.

Mounted on a decorative clamp with floral engraving, the bird features finely textured feathers and retains its original velvet pincushion mounted on the top. It attaches securely to a table or work surface via the screw clamp below, acting as a “third hand” for the seamstress.