Thimble

A thimble is a small pitted cup worn on the finger that protects it from being pricked or poked by a needle while sewing.

Early centers of thimble production were those places known for brass-working, starting with Nuremberg in the 15th century, and moving to Holland by the 17th.

[4] He later moved his mill to Buckinghamshire to take advantage of water-powered production, resulting in a capacity to produce more than two million thimbles per year.

Advanced thimblemakers enhanced thimbles with semi-precious stones to adorn the apex or along the outer rim.

Thimble artists would also utilize enameling, or the Guilloché techniques advanced by Peter Carl Fabergé.

[5] Originally, thimbles were used simply solely for pushing a needle through fabric or leather as it was being sewn.

Early Meissen porcelain and elaborate, decorated gold thimbles were also given as keepsakes and were usually quite unsuitable for sewing.

[7] Thimble-knocking also refers to the practice of Victorian schoolmistresses who would tap on the heads of unruly pupils with dames thimbles.

Charles Horner solved the problem by creating thimbles consisting of a steel core covered inside and out by silver, so that they retained their aesthetics but were now more practical and durable.

Early American thimbles made of whale bone or tooth featuring miniature scrimshaw designs are considered valuable collectibles.

[9] During the First World War, silver thimbles were collected from "those who had nothing to give" by the British government and melted down to buy hospital equipment.

[16] This design permits the sewer to exert a great amount of force when pushing thick needles through very tough materials such as sail cloth, canvas or leather.

[19] On December 3, 1979, a London dealer bid the sum of $18,000 USD for a dentil shaped Meissen porcelain thimble, circa 1740, at Christie's auction in Geneva, Switzerland.