Rights Holder: Kent County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
THIMBLE
Unique ID: KENT-829885
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A beehive type open copper-alloy thimble dating from the Medieval period (1400-1550).
Description: A circular base with a dome top, the outside of the thimble is decorated with a series of small indented circles that spiral outwards from the crown. The circles are mostly coloured light brown from where the dirt remains and the exposed metal has a dark green patina. An incised band encloses the base about 3mm in from the bottom. The inside of the thimble is undecorated.
Measurements: Height: 15.94mmThickness: 2.61mmDiameter: 20.04mm Weight: 9.07g
Discussion: A similar thimble can be seen in Holmes, 1988, page1 fig.2 a and many other examples can be found on the PAS database.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1350
Date to: Circa AD 1620
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 15.94 mm
Thickness: 2.61 mm
Weight: 9.07 g
Diameter: 20.04 mm
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Decoration style: Other
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Incised or engraved or chased
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Sevenoaks (District)
Parish or ward: Ash-cum-Ridley (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ6165
Four figure Latitude: 51.36125472
Four figure longitude: 0.31112686
1:25K map: TQ6165
1:10K map: TQ66NW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes, E.F. | 1988 | Sewing Thimbles | Finds Research Group 700-1700 Datasheet 9 |
Similar objects
Find number: KENT-2FDDDB
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
Description:
An incomplete copper alloy medieval thimble, of beehive or heavy duty type, dating from 1400- 1550. The thimble is circular i…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: NARC-AB8D1A
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A complete copper alloy "beehive" closed thimble of later Medieval to Early Post Medieval date (AD 1400-1550). The object is composed of a st…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: PUBLIC-BBD5C8
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A complete and slightly misshapen Medieval copper-alloy domed ('beehive') closed thimble (c. 1350-c. 1450).
This thimble is a mis-shaped c…
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618