This unusual item is a original, vintage bamboo wood needle case from northern Thailand. Ahka women keep their sewing needles in them and wear them on their belts or around their necks.
This is a beautiful, old and rare vintage piece collected decades ago on our travels through Thailand and Burma. This highly decorated example is made from bamboo, etched and stained with betel juice and finished with a long fringe of cut Jacob's tears seeds. It has a lovely patina from use and is approximately mid 20th century.
If you collect sewing implements, this is a great piece for your collection.
Measurements: length 24.5 cm with fringe, length of bamboo tube 9 cm, width 2 cm