File:Post Medieval Needle Holder (FindID 109994) (cropped).jpg

English: A heavy, silver fluted needlecase with one projecting cast handle in the form of a foliate scroll; broken off projections all around the surface of the case seem to indicate that there were a number of similar handles all round it, presumably to hold on a lid, threaded through with leather thongs. The inside looks as if the case would originally have had a liner, perhaps made of copper sheet or lead? Heavily worn from use. Analysis by XRF indicates an approximate silver content of 94%. Earlier needlecases dating from the 12th to the 15th Century from the Museum of London, made in a variety of media, are illustrated in Geoff Egan and Frances Pritchard, 'Dress Accessories', London 1991, nos. 1780-1784. Needlecases became more substantial in the course of the fifteenth century and this one would seem, from its massive, architectural form and decoration, to be early to mid-16th Century in date. However there do not seem to be obvious parallels in Museum collections with which to compare it, and nothing so far reported through the Treasure Act. Due to its age and precious metal content, this find qualifies as treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 (Dr Dora Thornton, Curator of Renaissance Collections, The British Museum, 20/11/05).