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THIMBLE
Unique ID: LVPL-43D7D8
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Treasure Case: 2016 T942:
An incomplete silver thimble of post-medieval date. The thimble has regular pits and a domed crown. The centre of the crown is un-pitted as is a horizontal band running around the centre transacted by three vertical bands to form three crosses. In the centre of each cross is a sexfoil, possibly representing a flower or sunshine.
There is no visible maker's mark however the rim is broken on one side. Copper alloy staining is visible on the inside of the thimble. When originally found the object contained a thin foil silver lining, now missing.
The inscription possibly reads 'Work fine stich best of stitches'
The miss-spelt inscription may imply that the thimble was made in Holland for the English market or that it was made by an immigrant worker. It has apparently been recorded that 145,000 thimbles were imported from Holland into England in one year, 1694. For this information, see Edwin Holmes, A History of Thimbles, London, 1985, pp. 37-38. Cheaper versions of this type of thimble were also made in copper alloy, see British Museum, Department of Prehistory and Europe, 1891, 4-18, 36 and 1856, 7-1, 3005.
A similar example which has been declared Treasure include 2013 T613 IOW-FFDDF1.
Dimensions: 23mm in height, 17mm in width (at base), 15mm in width at crown, 6.3g
Notes:
As it was discovered prior to the 1996 Treasure Act it therefore falls under Treasure Trove. As a result we cannot prove that this item was buried with the intension of recovery and most therefor be considered casual loss so would not be covered by the law of Treasure Trove.
Inscription:
'Work fine stich best of stitches'
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned landowner after being declared not Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2016T942
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1600
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 23 mm
Width: 17 mm
Weight: 6.3 g
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2016T942
Materials and construction
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: IOW-FFDDF1
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Find number: WAW-792B78
Object type: THIMBLE
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CURATOR'S REPORT
Post-medieval silver thimble from Brailes, Warwickshire
Description of find
Silver thimble made from sheet soldered al…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: LVPL-44AD45
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete silver thimble of post-medieval date. The thimble has irregular pits which run down the sides in straight rows; each pit is divide…
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Timeline of associated dates
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