These little sewing helpers held a pincusion on a sewing table. I think they are European but do not know the country. The hand painting surely reminds me of our Holland Delft in the corner cupboard. I have seen them in New England Antiques shows but rarely been able to purchase them as they are always quite dear. Click the photos to see detail. There were other little sewing items made in this genre. If you have such, email me and share any information or pictures and I will post them here. joneill816@austin.rr.com These have just been added to the shop blog, to reach it click the banner for O'Neill's Antiques in the right hand column.
Post Script: Dawn Cook-Ronningen tells us that these clamps are similar to one pictured in the book:
The clamp is pictured on pg 97
Hindelopen, Friesland 19th
Century
Collection of the Fries Museum Leeuwarden
So sure enough they are Dutch like a lot of my 18th century Delft! e
Condition: Gorgeous clean little painted treasures in very good condition. One lacked it's pin cusion and I used a piece of natural linen to replace it. That same one has lost a small round mirror which would have been glued to the side.