Shaker Needle Case c. 1936

Ingrid Selmer-Larsen created this watercolor painting of a Shaker Needle Case. The composition is split, showing the object in both its closed and open states, each rendered with careful attention to form and color. The closed case, a solid block of muted blue, offers a sense of contained order, interrupted only by a band of vertical stripes, in green, pink and orange. In contrast, the open case presents a cascade of textures and patterns. The interior reveals layers of fabric, each with its own distinct character, from the regulated grid of the blue and white lining to the soft, yielding folds of the needle cushions. This juxtaposition creates a play between exterior reserve and interior richness. The artist's choice to depict the object in this manner invites contemplation on the interplay between functionality and aesthetics, and the hidden depths within the seemingly simple forms of everyday objects. The function of the needle case is not simply to store but to reveal a hidden world of creative potential and cultural memory.