LON-62F282: Post medieval silver thimble

Rights Holder: Museum of London
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THIMBLE

Unique ID: LON-62F282

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Published

A Post Medieval silver thimble dating AD1737-8. This is a silver thimble with a plain band at the rim. Above this plain band is a border of twisted rope design creating the base of a frieze of foliate design. Above this frieze is another twisted rope border. This design is interrupted by an oval panel containing the initials 'GB'. This panel appears to be flanked by a bird on either side. The upper half is decorated with regular indentations. A maker's mark 'SB' can be seen on the inside of the thimble in an oval shield. This dates to 1737-38 (Jackson 1921, p.189).

Dimensions:
Length: 17.6 mm
Thickness: 1 mm
Weight: 5.62 g
Diameter: 15.7 mm

Discussion:
A similar example can be found in 'Thimbles from the Collection of Edwin F Holmes' (1995, ref. 90) and this catalogue indicates that due to the small size it may have been a child's thimble.

The find dates to later than 1708 and as such falls outside the provisions of the Treasure Act 1996.

Kath Creed, Finds Liaison Officer, London

Janina Parol, Assistant treasure Registrar, British Museum

References:
Jackson, CJ (1921) 'English Goldsmiths and Their Marks', MacMillan & Co, London
Christies, South Kensington (1995) 'Thimbles from the Collection of Edwin F Holmes'

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being declared not Treasure

Treasure details

Treasure case tracking number: 2011T885

Chronology

Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1737
Date to: Circa AD 1738

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 17.6 mm
Thickness: 1 mm
Weight: 5.62 g
Diameter: 15.7 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 7th December 2011

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Treasure case number: 2011T885

Materials and construction

Primary material: Silver
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: London (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Greater London Authority (Greater London Authority)
District: City and County of the City of London (London Borough)
Parish or ward: Vintry (London Borough Ward)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: TQ3280
Four figure Latitude: 51.5035277
Four figure longitude: -0.09955492
1:25K map: TQ3280
1:10K map: TQ38SW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
Discovery circumstances: Found on the Thames foreshore

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: LON
Created: 12 years ago
Updated: 11 years ago

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