Copper-alloy needle box with two needles, with textile remains

Bronze cylinder, length 9.2cm, made from rather thick sheet metal rolled edge-to-edge. Inside one end is a reinforcing band, also of sheet metal with overlapping ends. The surface is decorated all round by transverse zones bordered by groups of broad and narrow grooves alternating. At the non-reinforced end 4 zones are ornamented with tripled outlined (heavy groove bordered by two fainter) chevron decorations. Both the transverse grooves, which may even be chased they have such a sensation of relief, and the diagonals are very decisive and purposive. In the end zone at the reinforced end, by contrast, there is a lightly scratched interlace pattern - angular and non-zoomorphic. In the second zone from this end a single punched ring-and-dot (not in drawing). The bronze appears to have been gilded. Just under the reinforcing band, the cylinder has been pierced by two rivets on opposite sides (heads appear at edge of interlacing band) - nothing to do with the band, so possibly to do with the cover mentioned by Faussett. Faussett mentioned a 'small piece of linen cloth (inside) which had served to keep the head or lid of it the tighter on!' The cloth was 'fresh, white and strong'. Needless to say, it does not now survive. Two bronze needles were found inside this case, so obviously there must have been some sort of lid or cover, though there is no trace of it now.Not described as gilt in SCH index card description. – B.B.