SOLD Scarce Set of Early-Mid 19th Century German Sail Needles with Wonderful Engraved Label 1865 I presume--construction to read these

I presume--construction to read these

Sold in the frame I found it is

would be it

and I love how the two smaller stars feels as if standing upon the shoulders of the larger one

It seems to me likely that this grasshopper is Japanese

SOLD Scarce Set of Early-Mid 19th Century German Sail Needles with Wonderful Engraved Label 1865 I presume--construction to read theseAt the Boston Antiquarian Book Fair last week, I spotted some early sail needles very similar to this set in a vitrine (being sold alongside some other 19th c. nautical materials for a massive sum.) So when I came across these the next day at a show in Maine, I snatched them, mostly because I found the engraving on the label quite wonderful, and that hand inked "No. 5," too, but also as impetus to learn a bit about sail needles made, as self evident,