Lot 289: An English Federation Family Machine Hand-Crank Sewing Machine with Bentwood Case
This English hand-crank sewing machine is constructed from black enamelled cast iron mounted to a wooden base. The body is decorated with intricate polychrome floral decals in shades of gold, red, blue, and green, featuring scrolling vines and blossoms. The machine bed displays a gilded label within an ornate scrollwork cartouche, containing the characters W S in black block letters followed by Federation in red script, situated above the text FAMILY MACHINE in black block letters. The arm of the machine features a stylized monogram in red and gold script, which appears as VS. A metal serial plate is fixed to the base and stamped with the number 434095, while the pillar base is cast with the words MADE IN ENGLAND. The mechanical components include a chrome-plated handwheel and a hand-crank mechanism with a wooden handle. The machine is fitted with a needle and a spool pin currently holding a spool of grey thread. It is accompanied by a conforming wooden bentwood-style protective cover with a metal handle and latches. An orange adhesive sticker marked 289 is applied to the right side of the machine bed.
Condition report:
The machine shows visible surface scratching and general wear to the black enamelled finish across the body and bed (photo 1). There are minor losses to the gilded and polychrome floral decals, most notably near the needle plate and along the front edge of the bed (photo 1). The chrome-plated components, including the handwheel and crank, exhibit light surface oxidation and pitting (photo 1). The wooden base and bentwood cover show minor scuffs and surface wear consistent with age (photo 1). An orange inventory sticker is present on the machine bed (photo 2). The mechanical hand-crank appears complete, though functional testing has not been performed.
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