Expert: Barbara K. Acchino - 7/19/2010

Question
Hi - I found a figural brass case marked W. Avery and Sons Redditch (No. 616).  It is in the form of a wishing well (water well) and you turn a crank that has a chain attached to open the top on the well. There is a brass "roof" over the well. The case part (the well) is round and doesn't seem big enough to be a needle case. The brass has a lot of detail in it (wood grain, flowers, leaves, brick on the steps leading up tp the well). Any ideas about this item - what it is and what it's worth? Thanks so much.

Answer
Hello Stacey.  Yes, the wishing well is a needlecase, also referred to as an "avery" after the makers.  There is a patent for this item that you can research on Google Patents; design patent #990679.  Your item was produced 22 May 1876, which can be determined by the diamond shape that has numbers or letters on each point.  This information, along with a picture of your avery, can be found in "Victorian Brass Needlecases" by Estelle Horowitz and Ruth Mann.  Perhaps your local library can obtain this book for you.  It has an illustration of your particular needlecase on page 26.  Your item may not look like a regular needlecase, but they were designed to hold needle packets rather than individual needles.  Without pictures of the condition of your avery, I cannot venture a guess as to the value.  Good luck with your search for more information on your item.  Barbara