IOW-558DF8: Medieval Closed Thimble

Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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THIMBLE

Unique ID: IOW-558DF8

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

An almost complete Medieval copper-alloy domed ('beehive') closed thimble (c. 1350-c. 1450).

This thimble is circular in plan and the walls taper inwards from the base towards the crown. The outer face has 14 spiralling turns of sub-circular indentations or pits extending to the apex. The indentations start just above the plain rim which is c. 2.1mm in depth and spiral in a clockwise direction from the base towards the top. There are no manufacturing marks.

The outer face of this thimble has a green patina. The inside is largely green and smooth.

Height: 24.2mm; diameter: 22.4mm; thickness of walls: 1.1mm. Weight: 8.80g.

This style of thimble is commonly known as a beehive thimble and has been dated to the Medieval period (c. AD 1350 to AD 1450) by Holmes (1988), page 1, Fig 1. Holmes suggests that this style is consistent with being a 'light duty' type.

Holmes, E.F. (1988) 'Sewing Thimbles'. Finds Research Group Datasheet 9. Finds Research Group 700-1700, Norwich.

Class: Closed

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1350
Date to: Circa AD 1450

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Height: 24.2 mm
Thickness: 1.1 mm
Weight: 8.8 g
Diameter: 22.4 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 6th July 2016 - Wednesday 6th July 2016

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: IOW2016-7-180

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Incomplete

Spatial metadata

Region: South East (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Isle of Wight

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
Discovery circumstances: Club rally
Current location: Finder
General landuse: Grassland, Heathland
Specific landuse: Regularly improved

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Holmes, E.F. 1988 Sewing Thimbles Finds Research Group 700-1700 Datasheet 9 1, Fig 1

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: IOW
Created: 7 years ago
Updated: 7 years ago

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