Antique & Vintage Figural
Sewing Bird Sewing Clamps

Sewing birds / sewing clamps make for a great antique collectible.  

Most of the antique sewing birds / sewing clamps listed on these pages originate from two different long time / old time collections of antique and vintage sewing clamps and antique sewing accessories.  There is a near endless variety and no one collection could ever have them all.  There is a collection of sewing clamps in Lincroft, NJ at Brookdale Community College's Monmouth Museum that numbers over 400 and another larger one that the Smithsonian has. 

Sewing clamps / birds can be utilitarian and very plain and simple, or figural, very complex and decorative, or all manner of forms and combinations in between.  Each of the sale pages we have is focused on a different form or style, from figural birds, to other animals, to those made of ivory, or those with just simple clamps  and more. 

Please be sure to visit all the different pages as there are many to see and we have broken them up into different categories.

On this page we will be listing the most easily recognizable and most popular form of sewing clamps / sewing birds---sewing clamps that are fashioned after birds, and are easily recognizable as birds, like the full bodied robin or other similar examples.  Some of these vintage clamps have spool holders or pincushions, and almost every one is different from the next.  And each is guaranteed to be original, vintage, and not a reproduction or knockoff like most found on eBay.  This is the most widely found type that has been reproduced, but all of the examples offered on this page are legit. 

Antique Brass Sewing Bird w/ Lower Pincushion This is a great looking vintage sewing bird / clamp with the pincushion below the nicely patina'd brass bird.   This is one of the harder to find variations of these with the cushion below, and the pin cushion is original. Overall it is in nice condition and it works well.  

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Very Good ........ $275.00

BS-SBSB-8

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Nickel Plated Brass Antique Sewing Bird w/ 2 Pincushions This is a great looking sewing clamp / bird with one pincushion below the bird on top of the clamp and another smaller one on its back. 

This antique sewing bird was patented in the mid 1800's and is the form that has been most widely copied or reproduced.   There are new versions being made and sold today, but they are a world apart in quality from this example. You can see a constant supply of the new fake version being offered on eBay as both old and new.  

A simple comparison reveals that this is a completely different and much nicer piece than those.  Reproductions of this style sewing bird have been made since the 20's, so some of the knockoffs do have some real age to them.  Some later examples are marked Japan on the clamp and date from after WWII.   The newest examples carry the patent date on the wing, but no other ID. 

This is a real antique sewing bird, and dates from the turn of the century or before.  The bird itself is made of  thin sheet brass that is nickel plated.  The wings have great feather details.  It is very detailed, and very well done.  The lower pincushion is not plated, and I believe this is correct as I have seen other examples in the same finish scheme.   A nice clamp. 

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BS-SBSB-5

Very Good ........ $175.00     SOLD!

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Nickel Plated Brass Antique Sewing Bird This is a nice looking sewing clamp / bird with one pincushion below the bird on top of the clamp and another place on its back for a smaller one that is missing. 

This style antique sewing bird was patented in the mid 1800's and is the form that has been most widely copied or reproduced.   There are new versions being made and sold today, but they are a world apart in quality from this example. You can see a constant supply of the new fake version being offered on eBay as both old and new.   The newest examples carry the patent date on the wing, as this one does, but no other ID. 

This is a real antique sewing bird, and dates from near the turn of the century or before.  The bird itself is made of  thin sheet brass that is nickel plated.  The wings have great feather details.    A nice clamp. 

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KR-SB-1

Very Good ........ $125.00

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Nickel Plated Brass Antique Sewing Bird w/ 2 Pincushions This sewing clamp / bird with one pincushion on top of the clamp is identical to the one above but w/o the lower pincushion.  It may be missing, or they may have been offered this way

This style sewing bird was patented in the mid 1800's and is the form that has been most widely copied or reproduced.  You can see a constant supply of the new fake version being offered on eBay as both old and new.   A simple comparison reveals that this is a completely different and much nicer piece than those.  Reproductions of this style sewing bird have been made since the 20's, so some of the knockoffs do have some real age to them.  Some later examples are marked Japan on the clamp and date from after WWII.   The newest examples carry the patent date on the wing, as this one does, but no other ID. 

This is a real antique sewing bird, and dates from the turn of the century or before.   A nice clamp. 

KR-SB-2

Very Good ........ $95.00

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Cast Iron Tole Painted Antique Sewing Bird  This is a great looking antique sewing clamp / bird that dates from the 19th century.   It  has a lot of original paint and finish that is hard to see in the pics.  The neck is gold in color, and the main body has lots of original black paint w/ a red highlights at the tips of the wings.  The spring is strong, and the heart shaped screw clamp works properly. 

The bird itself is made of  cast iron.   It is very well done and a nice casting.  A nice clamp. 

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KR-SB-3

Very Good ........ $245.00

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Antique Nickel Plated Sewing Bird w/ 2 Pincushions This is a great looking antique sewing clamp / bird with one pincushion below the bird and another smaller one on its back.  The pin cushions are original and nice.  It is the form that has been most widely copied and is still being made and sold today, but even a simple comparison reveals that this is a completely different and much nicer piece than those.  This one does not have the patent date which the fakes one do have. 

IIt is a whole different model or class from the example above as well.  Like apples and oranges or Corvettes and Chevettes---both cars, but different.

The bird itself is not just a thin sheet of brass.  The wings are solid and very heavy.  The other big difference is the clamp portion.  This one is not cast---it is machined, and engraved with its decoration or design.  It is very detailed, and very well done.  The differences from a new one are stark.  A special and rare sewing bird / clamp that will stand out from, and is heads and tails above the rest.

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Excellent........ $395.00

BS-SBSB-3

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A. Gerould & Co. Patented "Full Body Robin" Sewing Bird w/ Pincushion  This is the same as the example above.  There is a small pincushion under the neck and it is original and shows some wear.  It has a slightly lighter patina than the example above.  Nice!

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Very Good  ......... $250.00      SOLD!

BS-SBSB-2

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Vintage Full Body Robin Brass Sewing Bird  This is a bit different from what is typically referred to as a full body robin sewing clamp.  It is a bit larger, and it does not have a pin cushion.  The molding for the design is different as well.  I do not see any marking either.  The way it opens and closes is also different in that the top and bottom of the bird's mouth tries to open.  It works, but not real well.  It is a great looker, but move on if you are wanting a user.  Nice!

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Very Good  ......... $175.00

BS-SBSB-12

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Antique Brass Sewing Bird / Clamp w/ Hi -Rise Pincushion This antique sewing bird is about 6" tall and 4" or so from end to end.  It is constructed of brass.  The spring is good, and it grips fabric just fine.   It is a great looking antique sewing bird with fine detailing.  The pincushion on top is original and shows some wear.  The thumbscrew has great detail.  It is in remarkably good condition and is a very nice design. 

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Very Good-Excellent ......... $225.00

BS-SCSB-6

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Antique Polished Steel Sewing Bird  This sewing clamp is polished steel and English in origin.   It dates from the 19th century.  It is graceful in form with a stylized "bird" having a beak to hold the fabric and a tall flat tail you push to open it. Note the cut-out heart design in the thumbscrew!  Overall this is a very nice sewing clamp that has been cleaned and polished to highlight its design and will display very nicely.  Very nice!

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Very Good ........ $175.00

BS-SB-7

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We can help you sell your quality Antiques in this and other categories of Antiques.

If you have similar antiques or collectibles you want to sell please see our
FAQ Page, the Appraisal / Selling Page, and the Selling Your Collection Pages for further info about selling with us.

To view examples of the types of antiques and collectibles we have previously sold and are always interested in helping you sell please visit our Past Sales Archive Pages at our sister website www.AntiqBuyer.com.

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