Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
THIMBLE
Unique ID: SF6273
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Probable sewing ring made from a sheet of copper alloy bent round and originally with a soldered seam. The rim is unthickened but has a bold groove around it which gives the impression of an out-turned edge. Above this is a zone of indentations; five rows of circular depressions set in diagonal rows, which appear to have been made in one operation (perhaps using a rouletting wheel) rather than individually. Above this is a single row of smaller indentations, then a faint groove. The soldered seam has burst open but traces of the silvery solder can be seen. Although the top begins to curve inwards, there is no evidence that a cap was added to turn the ring into a thimble proper. Probably 16th century.
Included in Read 2018 as no. 53. Read notes that 16th-century thimbles with soldered seams are unusual (2018, 12 and 16-17).
Class: ring
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1600
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 14 mm
Weight: 5.34 g
Diameter: 19 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st January 1992 - Monday 1st January 2001
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Suffolk (County)
District: Suffolk Coastal (District)
To be known as: SUFFOLK CLOPTON
Spatial coordinates
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: BUC-79FEC3
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
Thimble or sewing ring with overlapping seam. Both upper and lower rims are unthickened and decorated with a pair of circumferential grooves.…
Workflow: Published
Find number: IOW-ACF0D2
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A Medieval open thimble or 'sewing ring'. It is made from a sheet of copper alloy which is wrapped around with an overlapping seam, now squas…
Workflow: Published
Find number: SF4601
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Silver thimble, now squashed flat and with its top missing. The rim is unthickened, and is decorated with two rows of beading (now very worn…
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618