Charles May - Thimbleselect Catalogue

Learn more about Charles May's
silver and gold thimbles

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Charles May

I have had a few Charles May's silver thimbles in my collection for a long time - and as they are all fairly similar in design an abstract feathery pattern [also known as wrigglework] - it came as a suprise to find he'd made other thimble designs. Reading thru back copies of Thimble Society [of London] catalogues, I noticed that though the feathery patterned bands that I'd always associated with Charles May were there, there was a wonderful range new to me. I thought I'd share these findings with you.

Charles May was not one of the most prolific Victorian silver thimble makers; Charles Horner of Halifax and the Birmingham silver thimble makers (Henry Griffith, James Fenton and James Swann) were much bigger producers. Because of this Charles May thimbles make a nice niche collection. He was different from most of the English Victorian thimble silversmiths: in that, he didn't work in Birmingham.

May was London-based and he registered his maker's mark at the London assay office. The firm had two primary places of manufacture in London: Shoreditch, and later in Hackney. Gold and silver thimble making was their primary manufacture.

Charles May also registered his maker's mark at the Birmingham assay office in February 1876.

Von Hoelle describes May as "an English goldsmith in London who made exquisite gold thimbles during the second half of the 19th century". In her 'Letts Guide…' McConnel says that Charles May firm existed from 1805 to 1929.

Holmes says that by 1900 Charles May concentrated more on making gold thimbles, but there is only one I have seen.

There is a time line for the firm of Charles May as silversmiths, in Culme as follows:
Charles May c.1821-c.1851
Charles Croxton May c.1851-c.1880
C.C. May & Sons c.1880-1907
C.C. May & Sons Ltd 1907-after 1923

The thimbles are arranged by date, giving the assay office and date. You can see the similarity of his designs in his later period. The earliest dated hallmarked thimble for Charles May, illustrated here, is for 1867 and the last in 1929.

If you study the feathery, stylised leaf [or wrigglework] patterned band thimbles you will see that each one is different and each one has a facetted rim. Another distinctive trait I've noticed from this small selection is the daisy patterns he uses - they are larger than those used by silver thimble makers in England of the same era.

London
[1867]
15ct Gold thimbles
photo: Edwin Holmes
London
[1868]
photo: Edwin Holmes
London
[1869]
photo: Edwin Holmes

Birmingham
[1878]
London
[1880]
London
[1881]

London
[1883 / 1896]
London
[1884]
Birmingham
[1886]
photo: Elegant Arts

Birmingham
[1887]
Birmingham
[1887]
Birmingham
[1888]

Birmingham
[1889]
Birmingham
[1889]
Birmingham
[1890]

Birmingham
[1890]
Birmingham / London
[1890 / 1891 / 1896 / 1914]
Birmingham
[1891]

Birmingham
[1893]
Birmingham
[1893]
Birmingham
[1894]

Birmingham
[1894]
London
[1895]
Birmingham
[1895]

Birmingham
[1895]
London
[1896]
London
[1896]
blackberry pattern
photo: Elegant Arts

London
[1897]
London
[1897]
London
[1897]

Birmingham
[1897]
Atlantic Cable pattern
Birmingham
[1897]
photo: Elegant Arts
Birmingham
[1898]

Birmingham
[1899]
Birmingham
[1901]
Birmingham
[1901]

Birmingham
[1901]
Birmingham
[1901]
Birmingham
[1901]

Birmingham
[1902]
Birmingham
[1902]
Birmingham
[1905]

Birmingham
[1907]
Birmingham
[1907 / 1910]
Birmingham
[1909]

Birmingham
[1910]
Birmingham
[1912]
London
[1916]

Birmingham
[1918]
London
[1919]
London
[1920]

London
[1920]
London
[1920]
London
[1926]
15 carat gold

London
[1929]

Birmingham
[date unknown]
Birmingham
[date unknown]
Birmingham
[date unknown]

assay office unknown
[date unknown]
assay office unknown
[date unknown]

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DO YOU KNOW ANY MORE DETAILS ABOUT CHARLES MAY?
Charles May, being a silversmith didn't only make thimbles. There are blue glass scent bottles with his hallmark in the silver top
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CHARLES MAY THIMBLES NOT MENTIONED?
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CHARLES MAY THIMBLES NOT PICTURED?
EMAIL thimbleselect@bigpond.com TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

References

John Culme - The directory of gold & silversmiths: jewellers & allied traders 1838-1914 from the London Assay Office registers - 1987
Edwin Holmes - History of thimbles - 1985
Edwin Holmes - Thimble Notes & Queries winter 1990
Bridget McConnel - Letts guide to collecting thimbles - 1991
Thimble Society [of London] catalogues
John von Hoelle - Thimble collector's encyclopedia. 3rd ed. - 1986

Contributors

This listing of Charles May Thimbles does not purport to be complete or accurate in all aspects. Rather it invites comment and contribution to add to our knowledge. My thanks to the other contributors.

Enjoy!

Any questions or comments?
thimbleselect@bigpond.com
I do not offer any type of valuation or advice on prices.

Last updated 8 August 2011
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London [1867] 15ct Gold thimbles photo: Edwin Holmes	London [1868] photo: Edwin Holmes	London [1869] photo: Edwin Holmes
Birmingham [1878]	London [1880]	London [1881]
London [1883 / 1896]	London [1884]	Birmingham [1886] photo: Elegant Arts
Birmingham [1887]	Birmingham [1887]	Birmingham [1888]
Birmingham [1889]	Birmingham [1889]	Birmingham [1890]
Birmingham [1890]	Birmingham / London [1890 / 1891 / 1896 / 1914]	Birmingham [1891]
Birmingham [1893]	Birmingham [1893]	Birmingham [1894]
Birmingham [1894]	London [1895]	Birmingham [1895]
Birmingham [1895]	London [1896]	London [1896] blackberry pattern photo: Elegant Arts
London [1897]	London [1897]	London [1897]
Birmingham [1897] Atlantic Cable pattern	Birmingham [1897] photo: Elegant Arts	Birmingham [1898]
Birmingham [1899]	Birmingham [1901]	Birmingham [1901]
Birmingham [1901]	Birmingham [1901]	Birmingham [1901]
Birmingham [1902]	Birmingham [1902]	Birmingham [1905]
Birmingham [1907]	Birmingham [1907 / 1910]	Birmingham [1909]
Birmingham [1910]	Birmingham [1912]	London [1916]
Birmingham [1918]	London [1919]	London [1920]
London [1920]	London [1920]	London [1926] 15 carat gold
London [1929]