Needle Case

Used throughout Asia for thousands of years, moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medical technique that involves burning mugwort to facilitate healing and stimulated energy flow. Healers insert small needles into acupuncture points on the body, affixing a cone-shaped amount of the herb that is lit and burned to create a pleasant, heating sensation deep in the skin. Moxibustion needles are essential to the healer’s repertoire and were once stored in elaborate needle cases. This silver needle case from 1850, is lavishly decorated with a raised floral motif and a bit of coral, providing shelter for the linen bag once filled with acupuncture needles.