A Reason to Collect Spools

Charles Eames  |  House of Cards

My favorite end table started its life in 1881 as a spool cabinet.

Originally, it would have lived without legs on a counter top. At a later date, someone added legs of turned wood, and I think the match is quite appropriate.

Each drawer had rows of prongs for spools, but these were removed to make flat files. I use the cabinet drawers for magazine clippings and miscellaneous paperwork.

The spool prongs of the top drawer were wisely retained, and throughout the years ...

,,, I've collected Coats & Clark's O.N.T. wooden spools with threads of every color to make this display. My spectrum of spools would not have been possible without generous contributions from many women — now of a past generation — who did their own sewing and mending.

Say, what does "O.N.T." mean, anyway?

Find out here.

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