THIMBLE

Post-medieval elongated silver thimble dating to the 17th century AD. The thimble is complete constructed from a sheet of silver soldered along the edges with the side seam clearly visible attached to a separate domed top soldered to the slightly tapering sides. A band runs around the top of the body of the thimble separating the dome decorated with two lines of stamped indentations at either side of an incised solid line. Above this upper band the thimble is decorated with a floral design in the form of petals. The body is decorated with three evenly spaced oval shaped bands are stamped immediately possibly representing strap work conjoined with three smaller double heart or harp shaped bands. The body and most of the dome is punched with square indentations, giving a 'waffle' effect. On the apex are the initials 'AN' a possible makers or owner's mark. The border contains the inscription + LET FRENSHIP INDVURE+. The length is 33mm, width is 18mm, diameter of the top is 15mm and the weight 10.00g.

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. They are distinctive for their strapwork designs

Similar items can be found on the PAS database: LIN-3ED029 (2004 T161), SOM-D37677 (2006 T137), SUR-B665D3 (2012 T821) and LON-D4CA92.
Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

References:
Darch,E (2012) NMS-257D33. A POST MEDIEVAL THIMBLE Webpage available at: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/529775
Cassidy, J. (2011) NARC-A80562. A POST MEDIEVAL THIMBLE Webpage available at: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/458311
Holmes, E. 1988. Sewing Thimbles. Datasheet 9. Finds Research Group 700-1700 Datasbeets 1-24. 1985-1998. Reprographic Unit, University of Oxford
Summnal. K. (2012) LON-396407. A POST MEDIEVAL THIMBLE Webpage available at: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/530006