Flea Market Item 26-355

Antique French “Au Chinois” Black Thread Spools

A lovely pair of antique French wooden thread spools, retaining their original decorative paper labels. One is clearly marked “6 Fils Câblés – Au Chinois”, while the other carries a “Câblé Louis d’Or” label with the traditional 20-franc coin motif. Both are marked 50, likely relating to the thread specification.

The spools are turned wood, wound with fine black cotton sewing thread. The Au Chinois name is particularly appealing: the historic French thread brand is famous for its distinctive Chinese-figure trademark and has long been associated with quality sewing and haberdashery threads.

Wonderful examples of French mercerie, with beautifully aged labels that make them as collectible for their graphics and packaging as for the thread itself. Ideal for display in a sewing collection or for incorporating into a vintage haberdashery vignette.