The objects illustrating ancient sewing, etc., speak pretty well for themselves. Such are the bronze thimble (No. 436; fig. 178), the iron scissors (No. 437; fig. 179), and the series of pins, needles, bodkins, netting needles, etc. (figs. 180, 181). The needles and pins are arranged in the Case according to their supposed order of development, starting from the thorn or bone fragment with a hole pierced in it. The Roman bronze needle-case from France (No. 438; fig. 182) is worthy of note. Similar cases were used by Roman surgeons for their instruments.
Fig. 180.—Needles, etc. 2:5.
Fig. 182.—Bronze Needle-Case (No. 438). 2:3
Fig. 181.—Netting-Needles. 2:5.
(421) Cat. of Vases, III., D 13; (433) Petrie, Hawara, pl. viii., 2; (435) Journ. of Hellen. Stud., xxxi., p. 15; cf. Blümner, Technologie, 2nd ed., pp. 220, 221; (438) Cf. Deneffe, La trousse d'un chirurgien gallo-romain, pl. 2.
On the ancient loom, see Daremberg and Saglio, s.v. Textrinum; Blümner, Technologie, I., 2nd. ed., p. 135 ff.
Cutlery.—At the east end of Table-Case G will be seen a series of Greek and Roman knives, ranging from the long Mycenaean hunting knife from Ialysos in Rhodes (No. 438) to the numerous Roman pocket-knives with bronze handles, frequently in the form of animals (No. 439). The iron blade has often rusted away, as will be seen from the illustration (fig. 183), which gives a selection of these knives. (a) represents a handle in the form of a panther catching a deer, (b) one in the form of a ram's head, with a leg projecting below to assist the grip, (e) a hound catching a hare. The iron blades are still preserved in the case of (c) and (d). The first, from Nîmes, has a bronze handle ending in a woman's head; (d) has a handle of the same material in the form of a hound catching a hare.
