Lot 207: A 1919 Birmingham Sterling Silver Hedgehog Pin Cushion

A 1919 sterling silver novelty pin cushion, realistically cast in the form of a crouching hedgehog. The silver body features a textured surface mimicking the animal’s fur and skin, with a pointed snout and four small feet. The upper back is hollowed to accommodate a domed cushion covered in dark blue wool fabric. The base of the silver body is heavily textured with a dimpled pattern. Four hallmark punches are struck into the underside: the maker’s mark L & S in a rectangular shield with rounded corners, a lion passant for sterling silver, an anchor for the Birmingham Assay Office, and a lowercase date letter u for the year 1919.