These horn pin cushions followed the development of first successful pin making machines in the US in the late 1830s that made pins available to most households. Early pins were made from steel wire that, if left exposed, would start to form surface rust. The pin cushion became a popular way to imbed the steel pins for safe-keeping when not being used, and to slow/prevent surface rust from forming. Pushing pins in and pulling them out of the internally filled pin cushions tended to polish them and keep them even cleaner/smoother. These pin cushion horns were for the shorter straight pins used in sewing, not the more elaborate hat pins that women stored in fancy holders to display when not in use. And yes, a lot of these pin cushion horns still survive.
Shelby Gallien
