THIMBLE

A Post Medieval copper alloy decorated thimble dating AD1520-1620, probably from Nuremberg, Germany. The thimble has a spiral of star-shaped indentations which start at the peak of the thimble. The sides have bands of decoration which starts with a band of repeated triangular motifs; then a wide band of star-shaped indentations; at the bottom of this band before the next band of decoration there are two maker's marks, both the same, comprising an isoceles triangle with three pellets arranged around the peak; they resemble small trees. The next band of decoration comprises alternate annulets and triangles with lines separating them. Underneath this is a hunting scene showing running deers amongst trees being chased by dogs. There is a pelleted border above and below the hunting scene and then finally the band with annulets and triangles is repeated.

A silver thimble with a similar hunting scene is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art accession no 10.135.3 it is dated 1577 and is probably from Nuremberg, Germany. The style of the two thimbles is very similar although the precise detail of the decoration is different. Holmes (1988: 3) writes that thimbles with hand-punched indentations often have a maker's mark which is struck where the spiral of indentations begins near the base. These would appear to have been imported mostly from Nuremberg, under the ordinances of the Guild of Thimble makers, all thimbles and sewing rings were required to carry the mark of the master who made them. Thimbles with makers' marks normally date from 1520-1620.

Dimensions: length: 24.13 mm; diameter: 18.55mm; weight: 4.46g.

Reference: Holmes, E. 1988. Sewing Thimbles. Datasheet 9. Finds Research Group 700-1700 Datasbeets 1-24. 1985-1998. Reprographic Unit, University of Oxford