THIMBLE

An incomplete silver thimble of the Post Medieval period, probably dating from c. AD 1600 - c. AD 1700.

The thimble seems to be missing the crown and has been flattened and folded, probably as a result of time spent in the plough soil. The rim is complete and has been decorated with two rectangular raised ridges flanked by grooves with a horizontal row of pellets above. It has a frieze above the rim of repetitive fleurs-de-lis interrupted by a small panel containing two hearts. Both hearts are supported by putti (cherubs). Above this is a scallop design with small circular, regular, indentations covering the sides of the thimble. There is a visible horizontal break at the point the crown tapered to a domed top, the indentations from here are slightly smaller than they are on the sides. The top of the object appears to be broken and damaged.

The object measures 22.6 mm in length and is 16.1 mm wide. The object has a maximum thickness (in the centre) of 5.6 mm and the wall measures 0.9 mm thick. It weighs 4.9 g.

The object is a light to dark grey in colour with an uneven patina. Abrasion caused by movement whilst within the plough soil may have resulted in the loss of some of the original surface detail.

A thimble with a similar design has been recorded from Brighstone, Isle of Wight. (PAS: IOW-B0F192), and from Newport, Isle of Wight (PAS: IOW-7E8237, Treasure case no. 2011 T738).

Taken from IOW-7E8237:

Silver thimbles were used increasingly by the European nobility and gentry during the 17th Century but surviving examples are rare, given that thimbles were much used and, when worn, were likely to have been melted down for their bullion value. In England, silver thimbles are documented as having been donated by women on the Parliamentary side to be melted down during the Civil War. Even later 17th Century English silver thimbles are rare, with few pieces in the national collections in the British Museum and the Museum of London.