{"product_id":"victorian-beehive-treen-tape-measure-circa-1880","title":"Victorian Beehive Treen Tape Measure, Circa 1880","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA Victorian novelty sewing tape measure turned in the shape of a beehive, or skep, one of the most popular figural forms for English sewing accessories in the second half of the 19th century. The body is ebonized treen with crisp horizontal reeding that mimics the coiled straw of a real skep, and a small turned bone finial sits at the top. You pull the tab to draw the tape out, then spin the bone finial to wind it back in. The mechanism still works smoothly. A charming, pocket-sized piece that would have lived in a sewing box or on a work table.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Type | Sewing tape measure\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Material | Ebonized treen with bone finial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Tape Length | Approximately 28.5 in. of woven tape\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Origin | England\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Age | Victorian, circa 1880\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Style | Figural novelty, beehive or skep form\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Size | 2 in H x 1.25 in diameter\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Mechanism | Pull tab to extend tape, spin finial to retract; working\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[condition]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe tape measure is in good antique condition and functions as intended. The ebonized treen body is solid with crisp reeding, showing light surface wear and a fine age split running down one side of the dome, visible in the photos. The turned bone finial is intact and spins to retract the tape. There is a small original metal tab where the tape exits the base. The blue woven tape extends to approximately 70 inches and retracts cleanly; it carries faint printed graduation marks and may or may not be original to the piece. Light marks and handling wear throughout consistent with age and use.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Austyn Marie Design","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51477374107926,"sku":"AMD-03401","price":140.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0896\/4623\/5926\/files\/DSA09366.jpg?v=1789590631","url":"https:\/\/austyn-marie.myshopify.com\/products\/victorian-beehive-treen-tape-measure-circa-1880","provider":"Austyn Marie Design","version":"1.0","type":"link"}