Metal Sewing-Thimbles Found in Britain

Brian Read

• Publisher: Archaeopress Archaeology
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781784919450
• eBook ISBN: 9781784919467
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Archaeology
• Index: Social Sciences

This is the first reference book that deals specifically with all types of sewing-thimble made from copper-alloy or silver, or either of these metals combined with iron or steel, and found in Britain: also included is a seemingly rare gold specimen. Domed, ring-type and open-top (here the latter classed as a new type) sewing-thimbles are described, among them unusual examples and others previously absent from the known record. From Britain the earliest reliable dating for these humble yet fascinating tools is between c.1270 – c.1350, and continues through the medieval and early post-medieval period and into the 18th and 19th centuries. Dating from at least the 17th century, subjected to detailed attention is the largely neglected sailmakers' and sailors' palm-iron, a heavy-duty tool made from either iron, steel or copper alloy. Also described are the two known types of silver or copper-alloy finger guard, an 18th – 19th century tool used in conjunction with finer sewing-thimbles. The majority of sewing-thimbles and other sewing-tools catalogued here are credited to metal-detectorists or members of The Society of Thames Mudlarks, who also use metal-detectors. To show constructional detail, each object is archaeologically drawn. This information is essential for metal-detectorists, archaeologists, museum curators, sewing-tool collectors and dealers, or anyone with an interest, seeking to gauge the type or age of any particular sewing-thimble or palm-iron.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Frontispiece
• Copyright Information
• Contents
• List of Figures
• Notes on Illustrations
• Abbreviations
• Acknowledgements
• Foreword
• Metal Sewing-Thimbles
• Figure 1. Composite three-piece sheet silver domed thimble c.19th – c.20th century. Note longitudinal soldered butt seam and 95 fineness stamp. Private collection.
• Figure 1. Composite three-piece sheet silver domed thimble c.19th – c.20th century. Note longitudinal soldered butt seam and 95 fineness stamp. Private collection.
• Figure 2. Hybrid sheet silver domed thimble with a probable replacement flat crown c.19th – c.20th century. Dorset.
• Figure 2. Hybrid sheet silver domed thimble with a probable replacement flat crown c.19th – c.20th century. Dorset.
• Metal Ring-Type Thimbles
• Figure 3. Ring-type copper-alloy thimbles c.9th – c.12th century, Corinth. (Note similarity with early ring-type thimbles found in Britain.) Top row: MF–7710, MF–7658, MF–7724, MF–8175, MF–7681, MF–5840, MF–6886 Bottom row: MF–4455, MF–7205, MF–6829, MF–4
• Figure 3. Ring-type copper-alloy thimbles c.9th – c.12th century, Corinth. (Note similarity with early ring-type thimbles found in Britain.) Top row: MF–7710, MF–7658, MF–7724, MF–8175, MF–7681, MF–5840, MF–6886 Bottom row: MF–4455, MF–7205, MF–6829, MF–4
• Figure 4. Soldered sheet copper-alloy ring-type thimble c.1350 – c.1400,
• Figure 5. Ring-type copper-alloy thimbles c. early 13th century – c. 1450.
• Figure 5. Ring-type copper-alloy thimbles c. early 13th century – c. 1450.
• Figure 6. Ring-type copper-alloy thimbles c. early 13th century – c. 1450.
• Figure 6. Ring-type copper-alloy thimbles c. early 13th century – c. 1450.
• Figure 7. Ring-type copper-alloy and silver thimbles c.1450 – c.1600
• Figure 7. Ring-type copper-alloy and silver thimbles c.1450 – c.1600.
• Figure 8. Dutch cast copper-alloy ring-type thimble from the Dutch East Indiaman De Liefde 18th century. Note mechanically knu led circular pits, upper circumferential groove and pronounced basal rim. Photo copyright © Lewis Murray and reproduced courtesy
• Figure 8. Dutch cast copper-alloy ring-type thimble from the Dutch East Indiaman De Liefde 18th century. Note mechanically knu led circular pits, upper circumferential groove and pronounced basal rim. Photo copyright © Lewis Murray and reproduced courtesy
• Figure 9. Ring-type copper-alloy and white-metal coated malleable iron/steel thimbles c.17th – c.18th century.
• Figure 9. Ring-type copper-alloy and white-metal coated malleable iron/steel thimbles c.17th – c.18th century.
• Metal Domed Thimbles
• Figure 10. Domed copper-alloy thimbles c.12th century – c.1400.
• Figure 11. Domed copper-alloy (aka acorn cup) thimbles c.12th century – c.1400.
• Figure 11. Possible unfinished domed sheet copper-alloy thimble c.1400 – c.1500, Lincolnshire. Note flatness, lack of trauma marks and left-hand spiral of drilled pits.
• Figure 12. Domed copper-alloy thimbles c.1400 – c.1500.
• Figure 12. Possible unfinished domed sheet copper-alloy thimble c.1400 – c.1500. Lincolnshire. Note flatness, lack of trauma marks and left-hand spiral of drilled pits. Photo copyright and reproduced courtesy of Adam Staples.
• Figure 13. Domed copper-alloy thimbles c.1400 – c.1500.
• Figure 13. Detached crown, from a possible c.mid-15th-century domed composite two-piece hammered sheet copper-alloy thimble wi h soldered seams, Wiltshire.
• Figure 14. Detached crown, from a possible c.mid-15th-century domed composite two-piece hammered sheet copper-alloy thimble wi h soldered seams. Wiltshire.
• Figure 14. Domed cast copper-alloy thimble with possible linen sleeve c.15th-century, South Lincolnshire. Photo copyright © and reproduced courtesy of Adam Staples.
• Figure 15. Domed cast copper-alloy thimble with possible linen sleeve c.15th-century. South Lincolnshire. Photo copyright © and reproduced courtesy of Adam Staples.
• Figure 15. Domed malleable iron/steel thimble with copper-alloy sleeve c. late post-medieval; private collection.
• Figure 16. Domed malleable iron/steel thimble with copper-alloy sleeve c. late post-medieval. Private collection.
• Figure 16. Domed malleable iron/steel thimble with copper-alloy sleeve c. late post-medieval; Buckinghamshire.
• Figure 17. Domed malleable iron/steel thimble c. late post-medieval, East Devon.
• Figure 18. Domed malleable iron/steel thimble c. late post-medieval. East Devon.
• Figure 18. Nuremberg thimble-maker brother Ving […] drilling pits in a domed thimble c.1414. Note domed and ring-type thimbles on bench. Mendelschen Institute Housebook 1. Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg Amb. 317.2 , f. 5 v. Reproduced courtesy of the City Libra
• Figure 19. Nuremberg thimble-maker’s workshop, after an engraving by Jost Amman (1539-91). First published 1564 and reproduced 1568 by Hans Sachsen in Eigentliche Beschreibung aller Stände auffErden. Note iron swaging block, and domed thimbles; some of wh
• Figure 20. Nuremberg thimble-maker’s workshop, after an engraving by Jost Amman (1539-91). First published 1564 and reproduced 1568 by Hans Sachsen in Eigentliche Beschreibung aller Stände auffErden. Note iron swaging block, and domed thimbles; some of wh
• Figure 20. Nuremberg thimble-maker brother Veit Schuster 7 January 1592 performing an indeterminate task with a hammer and punch. Mendelschen Institute Housebook II. Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg, Amb. 317b.2 , f. 52 r. Reproduced courtesy of the City Library
• Figure 21. Nuremberg thimble-maker brother Veit Schuster 7 January 1592 performing an indeterminate task with a hammer and punch. Mendelschen Institute Housebook II. Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg, Amb. 317b.2 , f. 52 r. Reproduced courtesy of the City Library
• Figure 21. Nuremberg thimble-maker brother Wolf Laim 6 July1621. Landauer Foundation Memorial Book I. Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg, Amb. 279.2 , f. 89. Reproduced courtesy of the City Library of Nuremberg.
• Figure 22. Nuremberg thimble-maker brother Wolf Laim 6 July1621. Landauer Foundation Memorial Book I. Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg, Amb. 279.2 , f. 89. Reproduced courtesy of the City Library of Nuremberg.
• Figure 22. Nuremberg thimble-maker brother Martin Winderlein 18 May 1627, punching pits in a domed thimble. Note two different colours of domed thimbles, which suggests both silver and copper-alloy forms. Mendelschen Institute Housebook II. Stadtbibliothe
• Figure 23. Nuremberg thimble-journeyman brother Nicolaus Zeittenberger 24 December 1667, punching pits in a domed thimble. Note two different colours of domed thimbles, which suggests both silver and copper-alloy forms. Mendelschen Institute Housebook II.
• Figure 23. Nuremberg thimble-maker brother Martin Winderlein 18 May 1627, punching pits in a domed thimble. Note two different colours of domed thimbles, which suggests both silver and copper-alloy forms. Mendelschen Institute Housebook II. Stadtbibliothe
• Figure 24. Nuremberg thimble-journeyman brother Nicolaus Zeittenberger 24 December 1667, punching pits in a domed thimble. Note two different colours of domed thimbles, which suggests both silver and copper-alloy forms. Mendelschen Institute Housebook II.
• Figure 24a. Nuremberg domed copper-alloy thimbles c.16th century.
• Figure 25a. Nuremberg domed copper-alloy thimbles c.16th century.
• Figure 24b. Nuremberg domed copper-alloy thimbles c.16th century.
• Figure 25a. Domed copper-alloy and silver thimbles c.16th century (one is perhaps 17th century).
• Figure 25b. Nuremberg domed copper-alloy thimbles c.16th century.
• Figure 26a. Domed copper-alloy and silver thimbles c.16th century (one is perhaps 17th century).
• Figure 25b. Domed copper-alloy and silver thimbles c.16th century (one is perhaps 17th century).
• Figure 26b. Domed copper-alloy and silver thimbles c.16th century (* one is perhaps 17th century).
• Figure 26. English domed composite silver and copper-alloy thimbles (some incomplete) c. mid- to c. late 17th century.
• Figure 27. English domed composite silver and copper-alloy thimbles (some incomplete) c. mid- to c. late 17th century.
• Figure 27. Probable English domed composite silver thimbles c. mid-17th to c. mid 18th century.
• Figure 28. Probable English domed composite silver and gold thimbles c. mid-17th to c. mid 18th century.
• Figure 28. Dutch Holmes’ Type I domed copper-alloy thimbles c.16th – c. mid-17th century.
• Figure 29. Dutch Holmes’ Type I domed copper-alloy thimbles c.16th – c. mid-17th century.
• Figure 29. Engraving of thimble-maker John Lofting by J Kip in the London Prospects Portfolio c.1690.
• Figure 30. Dutch Holmes’ Type II domed copper-alloy thimble 18th century, from the Dutch East Indiaman De Liefde (The Love). Note mechanically knurled circular pits, basal bands and deep grooves. Photo copyright © Lewis Murray and reproduced courtesy of
• Figure 31. Dutch or English Holmes’ Type II domed copper-alloy thimbles c. mid-17th – c. mid-18th century.
• Figure 32. Dutch or English Holmes’ Type II domed copper-alloy thimbles c. mid-17th – c. mid-18th century.
• Figure 33. Dutch or English (John Lofting) Holmes’ Type III domed copper-alloy thimbles c. mid-17th – c. mid-18th century.
• Figure 32. Dutch or English (John Lofting) Holmes’ Type III domed copper-alloy thimbles c. mid-17th – c. mid-18th century.
• Figure 33a. Miscellaneous domed copper-alloy, pewter and silver thimbles c. mid 18th – c. mid-19th century.
• Figure 34. Miscellaneous domed copper-alloy, pewter and silver thimbles c. mid 18th – c. mid-19th century. (*one is perhaps 7th century)
• Figure 34. Open-top copper-alloy thimbles c.14th century. After Mills 1999, NM.60, NM.61.
• Figure 35. Open-top copper-alloy thimbles c.14th century. After Mills 1999, NM.60, NM.61.
• Metal Open-Top Thimbles
• Metal Finger-Guards
• Metal Palm-Irons
• Figure 36. Read Type V cast copper-alloy palm-iron, from the c.1658 Wadden Sea shipwreck. Photo reproduced courtesy of the Rijksdienst voor Cultureel Erfgoed.
• Figure 37. Read Type V cast copper-alloy palm-iron, from the c.1658 Wadden Sea shipwreck. Photo reproduced courtesy of the Rijksdienst voor Cultureel Erfgoed.
• Figure 37. Sketch of a sailmaker’s palm fitted with a Read Type II palm-iron in Álbum del Marqués de la Victoria 1719-56. Afte Pawson 2010 pp 11.
• Figure 38. Sailmaker’s leather palm 19th century. Note angled section of rawhide and inset metal probable Read Type III wedge-shaped iron.Photo copyright © and reproduced courtesy of Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Penzance.
• Figure 38. Sketch of a sailmaker’s palm fitted with a Read Type II palm-iron in Álbum del Marqués de la Victoria 1719-56. Afte Pawson 2010 pp 11.
• Figure 39. Copper-alloy and malleable iron or steel palm-irons and copper-alloy possible palm-iron c.17th – c.20th century. Some photos copyright © and reproduced courtesy of the PAS.
• Figure 39. Sailmaker’s leather palm 19th century. Note angled section of rawhide and inset metal probable Read Type III wedge-shaped iron. Photo copyright © and reproduced courtesy of Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Penzance.
• Figure 40. Copper-alloy and malleable iron or steel palm-irons and copper-alloy possible palm-iron c.17th – c.20th century. Some photos copyright © and reproduced courtesy of the PAS.
• Figure 41. Leaden so-called palm-guards, possibly c. late post-medieval, Yorkshire, County Durham, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Note none, one or two circular impression in convex sides and absence of confirmed needle marks on either side. Photos copyrigh
• Metal So-called Palm Guards
• Bibliography