British Thimble Collecting
The British people most certainly love their thimbles. Thimbles have been around since the mankind has been sewing. They are made of stone, bronze, wood, leather, horn, bone, tortoise shell, glass, mother of pearl, all kinds of different metals and also porcelain. Early needles were very thick pieces of metal and it was easy to hurt yourself with them. Most of the early ones were open topped and made out of brass.
Silver thimbles date to about the seventeenth century and have the waffle like surface. Many have decorative chevron or circular work around the edging. In the 18th century the thimbles became shorter and rounder. They kept growing in popularity because it was such a popular past-time to practice needle work. Back then (and very collectible today) the thimble was hung on a chatelaine that also included a buttonhook, pincushion, scissors and a needle case.
The ultimate British collectible when it comes to thimbles is the English porcelain thimble. These were hand painted with little birds, flowers, male and female figures, dogs, horses, cats and seascapes. The manufacturers of these fine porcelain thimbles were Wedgewood, Coalport, Spode and Royal Worcester. Some very famous artists have put their designs on thimbles including the landscape and portrait painter William Powell who painted a collection with little birds on them.
For the British thimbles are more than utilitarian sewing aids. They have been works of art. In London’s Hyde Park in 1851 there was a huge exhibition of them that has triggered a collectible craze that seems to have lasted until today.
Crystal glass thimbles have been around since the Tudor period of British history and come in all kinds of designs including swirls, dotted, waffled and floral patterns.
Today you can buy all kinds of novelty thimbles in the shape of all kinds of different motifs. Egyptian thimbles made out of gold or black plate in the shape of Cleopatra, The Mask of Tuntankatam and Queen Nefertiti are popular as are the fine porcelain floral illustrations of William Morris. You can also get British thimbles in the shape of Beehives, Russian Dolls, Fairies, dust bins, owls, cats, helmets … you name it. Many people collect them as good luck charms especially ones shaped like frogs, sea-horses, fairies, chimney sweeps and ones with motif s like rabbits, horse-shoes, wish bones, moons, suns and stars on them. In fact if you want to wish someone luck on their birthday give them a British thimble that says “good luck” on it.