This is a pair of Ivory cotton barrels, English in origin, & dating to the early part of the 19th Century, around 1810 - 1820.

The barrels have a turned decoration to the top, bottom, & lid, and contain a rotating spindle & a hole in the side, through which, the thread can be pulled.

The lid of the barrel unscrews to access the removable, ivory spindle.

The lid on the smaller barrel is fast, but the spindle turns freely. The lid on the larger barrel is fine, with the spindle turning freely.

Condition is fine for their 200 odd years, with no damage other than a small scratch to the lid of the smaller barrel (almost certainly caused by pulling the thread from the top).

The smaller barrel stands approx 1 1/2" (3.7cm) to the top of the spindle, & the larger one approx 1 5/8" (4.1cm) to the top of the spindle.

Similar barrels can be found on page 85 in the ACC/Taunton book 'Antique Needlework Tools'.