Metal Thimble
| This article discusses the evolution, methods of manufacture and identifying features of metal thimbles, from early hand cast bronze and iron thimbles through machine made brass and silver thimbles to the decorative and commemorative thimbles of the present day. |
Thimbles
Although thimbles have been around since antiquity, metal thimbles
found in the Western Hemisphere probably date from no earlier than the
14th century. Since then, a variety of metals have been used to make
thimbles. These include bronze, iron, brass, and silver. By considering
the metal used and the method of production, you can date the thimbles
in your collection.
The first metal thimbles were merely protectors for the side of the
finger. They were made individually by hammering a metal, such as bronze
or iron, into a mold. Strong and unadorned, their only patterns were the
hand made indentations that kept them from slipping. They had the
shallow shape of an acorn top, known as a “skep.” A small hole in the
top center is thought to have been a necessity of the manufacturing
process just like the “feet” on molded dishes. These thimbles were used
to sew homespun fabrics with coarse thread and big rough needles, a task
that required strength.
As hand sewing grew more refined metal thimbles did too. Their shape
changed. They became taller and flatter on top with shallower
indentations, better suited to fine needlework. Lighter sheet metals,
including brass, could be used because sewing was no longer done by main
force. Thimbles of the time had two-piece construction with the cap
attached separately.
Maker’s marks and decorative motifs began to appear in the 16th century
as manufacturing methods improved. As thimbles became more attractive
they began to be viewed as gift items. In the 17th century, precious
metals were sometimes used and metal thimbles might be encrusted with
precious stones and used as presentation pieces. If silver was used the
cap of the thimble had to be reinforced with steel because silver is a
soft metal.
John Lofting played an important part in the evolution and mass
distribution of the thimble during the 18th century. He used one-piece
casting methods at his factories in England and mass produced brass
thimbles for adults and children. Later, other manufacturers made more
improvements and the quality of brass improved as well. Archeological
digs indicate that Lofting thimbles and their counterparts were
extensively used throughout the 19th century.
With the advent of the tourist industry in the 1850’s commemorative
metal thimbles began to be produced. These were followed by advertising
thimbles and silver thimbles meant to be given as gifts. The Victorians
sometimes cut the cap off a silver thimble to use it for a ring.
Today, metal of all kinds continues to be one of the primary materials
used for thimbles. Pewter is often used today to reproduce items
originally made in silver. However, with the decline in hand sewing,
today’s thimbles are largely decorative items, adorned with various
motifs and sold to collectors, their practical uses forgotten.