Victorian Sewing Bird Clamp with Original Pin Cushion

This Victorian-era sewing bird is a clamp designed to assist with hand-sewing by holding fabric in place. Sewing birds became popular in the 1850s as a helpful "third hand" for seamstresses, often given to young women as part of their dowries. This sewing bird is an early version, distinguishable by its unique clamp design and the heart-shaped handle on the screw. It retains its original pin cushion on the back and was never designed to have one on the clamp. The flat piece on the end of the screw is missing. The spring mechanism functions well, allowing the beak to open and close properly, though the beak is slightly misaligned when closed.