Knitting sheaths supported the weight of the knitting and stopped stitches slipping off the bottom of a double-ended needle. They were generally worn in the belt, on the right side, in a sloping position.They ranged from crudely whittled affairs to masterpieces of 'fine art', and were usually individually made and decorated by their makers to give as love tokens. This 18th century, boxwood, knitting sheath is widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of carving. It was probably made in France or Italy. The sheath does not appear to have been used and it has doubtless always been cherished as a work of art rather than as a functional object.