Metal Detecting Finds - Thimbles
Metal Sewing-Thimbles Found in Britain
Published on 20. March 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
118 pages
978-1-897738-80-1 (ISBN)
Description
Metal Sewing Thimbles Found in Britain - by Brian Read.
As thimbles are a common metal detecting find, this book is an important identification resource.
This is the first reference book that deals specifically with all types of sewing-thimble found in Britain, made from copper-alloy or silver, or either of these metals combined with iron or steel; 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.
This work also covers in detail the largely neglected sailmakers' and sailors' palm-iron, a heavy-duty tool made from either iron, steel or copper-alloy dating from at least the 17th century.
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 sometimes 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.
Hundreds of colour photographs and archaeological drawings.
118pp, A4, softback, GBP19.95
As thimbles are a common metal detecting find, this book is an important identification resource.
This is the first reference book that deals specifically with all types of sewing-thimble found in Britain, made from copper-alloy or silver, or either of these metals combined with iron or steel; 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.
This work also covers in detail the largely neglected sailmakers' and sailors' palm-iron, a heavy-duty tool made from either iron, steel or copper-alloy dating from at least the 17th century.
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 sometimes 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.
Hundreds of colour photographs and archaeological drawings.
118pp, A4, softback, GBP19.95
More details
Edition
Illustrated edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Witham
United Kingdom
Edition type
Illustrated edition
Dimensions
Height: 297 mm
Width: 210 mm
Thickness: 6 mm
Weight
378 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-897738-80-1 (9781897738801)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Brian Read was born in 1939 in Essex and raised in East and South-East London. With no formal educational qualifications, he left Secondary Modern School in 1954 and became a trainee millwright and then a trainee groundsman before joining the Merchant Navy in 1955 through which he travelled widely. In 1961 he embarked on fire service career, first with the Devon County Fire Service, then the City of Plymouth Fire Brigade, and finally the newly formed Devon Fire Brigade. While on duty in 1983, in the rank of assistant divisional officer, he sustained an injury that, in 1986, resulted in his medical discharge.
Since leaving the fire service he has worked as a freelance writer. His first book, History Beneath Our Feet, published in 1988, was a bestseller and after extensive revision underwent re-publication in 1995 and again proved successful. Between 1999 - 2015 he self-published, under the imprint Portcullis Publishing.
From 1978, metal detecting and its associated study of small metal artefacture has been his primary leisure interest.
Since leaving the fire service he has worked as a freelance writer. His first book, History Beneath Our Feet, published in 1988, was a bestseller and after extensive revision underwent re-publication in 1995 and again proved successful. Between 1999 - 2015 he self-published, under the imprint Portcullis Publishing.
From 1978, metal detecting and its associated study of small metal artefacture has been his primary leisure interest.
Content
Contents
List of Figures .8
Notes on Illustrations 10
Abbreviations . 10
Acknowledgements . 11
Foreword . 13
Metal Sewing-Thimbles . 15
Introduction . 15
Metal Ring-Type Thimbles .22
Ring-type thimbles with possibly unsoldered seams c. early 13th century - c.1450 . 24
Ring-type thimbles with soldered seams c. early 13th century - c.1450 . 24
Ring-type thimble with soldered lapped and scarfed seam c. early 13th century - c.1450 . 25
Ring-type seamless thimbles mainly c.15th century . 25
Ring-type seamless thimbles c.1450-1600 27
Ring-type seamless thimbles c.1520-1600 29
Ring-type thimbles with soldered scarfed seams c.1520-1600 . 31
Ring-type thimbles with soldered scarfed and lapped seams c.1520-1600 . 33
Ring-type thimbles c.1600 - c.19th century 34
Ring-type thimbles c.17th-18th century 36
Ring-type thimbles with soldered seams c.17th-18th century 38
Metal Domed Thimbles 39
Domed thimbles c.12th century - c.1400 . 41
Domed thimbles c.13th-17th century 41
Domed skep (aka acorn cup) thimbles c.1330-1400 . 41
Domed skep (aka acorn cup) carinated/faceted thimbles c.1330-1400 . 44
Domed thimbles c.1400-1500 44
Domed openwork thimbles c.1450-1500 49
Domed thimbles c.16th - c. mid-17th century 51
Domed thimbles c.1500-1600 56
Domed thimbles c.1520-1600 60 Domed thimbles c.1520-1650 64
Domed thimbles c.mid-17th - c. early 18th century . 73
Domed commemorative thimbles c.1625-1685 . 76
Domed thimbles c. mid- - c. late 17th century 77
Domed thimbles c. mid-17th - c. mid-18th century . 85
Dutch Holmes' Type I domed thimbles with soldered butt seams c.16th - c. mid-17th century . 87
Dutch and English Holmes' Type II domed seamless thimbles c.1620 - c. mid-18th century 89
Dutch and English Holmes' Type III domed thimbles c.1730-1800 . 93
Miscellaneous domed thimbles c. mid-18th - c. mid-19th century .
94 Domed thimbles 18th - early 19th century . 95
Metal Open-Top Thimbles . 102
Open-top thimbles c.14th-15th century .102
Metal Finger-Guards . 104 Finger-guards c.early 18th - c. mid-19th century .104
Ring-type finger-guards c.early 18th - c. mid-19th century .104
Domed finger-guards c.19th century 105
Domed finger-guards c.19th century 105
List of Figures .8
Notes on Illustrations 10
Abbreviations . 10
Acknowledgements . 11
Foreword . 13
Metal Sewing-Thimbles . 15
Introduction . 15
Metal Ring-Type Thimbles .22
Ring-type thimbles with possibly unsoldered seams c. early 13th century - c.1450 . 24
Ring-type thimbles with soldered seams c. early 13th century - c.1450 . 24
Ring-type thimble with soldered lapped and scarfed seam c. early 13th century - c.1450 . 25
Ring-type seamless thimbles mainly c.15th century . 25
Ring-type seamless thimbles c.1450-1600 27
Ring-type seamless thimbles c.1520-1600 29
Ring-type thimbles with soldered scarfed seams c.1520-1600 . 31
Ring-type thimbles with soldered scarfed and lapped seams c.1520-1600 . 33
Ring-type thimbles c.1600 - c.19th century 34
Ring-type thimbles c.17th-18th century 36
Ring-type thimbles with soldered seams c.17th-18th century 38
Metal Domed Thimbles 39
Domed thimbles c.12th century - c.1400 . 41
Domed thimbles c.13th-17th century 41
Domed skep (aka acorn cup) thimbles c.1330-1400 . 41
Domed skep (aka acorn cup) carinated/faceted thimbles c.1330-1400 . 44
Domed thimbles c.1400-1500 44
Domed openwork thimbles c.1450-1500 49
Domed thimbles c.16th - c. mid-17th century 51
Domed thimbles c.1500-1600 56
Domed thimbles c.1520-1600 60 Domed thimbles c.1520-1650 64
Domed thimbles c.mid-17th - c. early 18th century . 73
Domed commemorative thimbles c.1625-1685 . 76
Domed thimbles c. mid- - c. late 17th century 77
Domed thimbles c. mid-17th - c. mid-18th century . 85
Dutch Holmes' Type I domed thimbles with soldered butt seams c.16th - c. mid-17th century . 87
Dutch and English Holmes' Type II domed seamless thimbles c.1620 - c. mid-18th century 89
Dutch and English Holmes' Type III domed thimbles c.1730-1800 . 93
Miscellaneous domed thimbles c. mid-18th - c. mid-19th century .
94 Domed thimbles 18th - early 19th century . 95
Metal Open-Top Thimbles . 102
Open-top thimbles c.14th-15th century .102
Metal Finger-Guards . 104 Finger-guards c.early 18th - c. mid-19th century .104
Ring-type finger-guards c.early 18th - c. mid-19th century .104
Domed finger-guards c.19th century 105
Domed finger-guards c.19th century 105