Needle case

Needle case, possibly for bodkins. Possibly from a horse or bovine long bone. Two surviving sections screw together to form a hollow cylinder which gradually tapers towards the open end. The cap is sealed by a lathe turned plug with a finial. The main section widens gradually towards the screw thread locking perfectly into the cap which has a slightly larger diameter to accommodate it. There is a further thread inside the other end of the main section, which remains open, the end cap having been lost. The whole of the case exterior has been extremely well turned with circumferential grooves, of varying widths, some with angular edges, others rounded. These are interspersed with incised designs which are precisely delinated.