'Mother' Thimbles - Thimbleselect Catalogue

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Mother's Day is celebrated around the world on the second Sunday in May. The exception to this is the United Kingdom, who celebrates Mothering Sunday on the third Sunday in March. Is it because of the importance of Mothering Sunday in the UK that the branded china thimbles are all British-made?

There are not many thimbles made with 'Mother' on them. Caverswall, with their dated series, has the biggest selection that runs parallel with its Easter and Christmas series.

This is another series on a thematic thimble collection, and as such I have included thimbles, which feature Grandmothers and the pairs that represent Mothers and Daughters. I have noticed that the unbranded china often placed the word 'Mother' on the verso of their usual run of thimbles.

It is not surprising that there are no 'Father' thimbles - after all, it is the mother who is usually the sewer!!
I now discover that Hurley painted a Fathers' Day thimble in 1978!! It features a tailor sewing - and one design in 1981 of a train
Have you seen them?

China brands

Caverswall China

Caverswall Thimbles is one of the largest groups of branded thimbles and had the longest period of modern china thimble manufacture: 1977-1993.
The shape is dominant, with very little variety in shape over 15 years.
There are signed designs, where the artist would have added a small amount of handpainting over the decal of their design.
The most well-known of the Caverswall painters are Mary Grant, William R Tipton and John Ball.

Mother's day 1978
Mother's day 1986

Mother's day 1979
Mother's day 1987

Mother's day 1980
Matching round trinket box Mother's day 1988

Mother's day 1981
Mother's day 1989

Mother's day 1982
Mother's day 1990

Mother's day 1983
Mother's day 1991

Mother's day 1984
Mother's day 1992

Mother's day 1985
Mother's day 1993

This thimble seems to be for Mother's Day - also by Caverswall, but it is undated. Looking at the backstamp, this is an early Caverswall mark, so this is probably for Mother's Day, 1977.

Caverswall has produced one pair for Grandmother and granddaughter. This is an appropriate naming of these thimbles as it is usually the grandmother who teaches her granddaughter to sew.

Coalport Bone china

It was exciting to find that one of my favourite brands has produced dated 'Mother' thimbles.
I am hoping that there were more than 1978 to 1981 produced.
The shape is the distinctive Coalport with its rounded apex.

Countess Fine bone china

Countess produced one known 'Mother' thimble - with hatted women and the word 'Mother' on the verso - this is undated.
The thimbles were produced in the 1970s.

Franklin Porcelain

In 1980 Franklin Porcelain issued a set of 4 thimbles for Mother's Day.
The thimbles are not marked with any 'mother' lettering, just the date inside, but they are the "Precious Moments in a Mother's Day" set.
Each shows a mother animal and her babies.

cat with kittens
squirrel family
duck with ducklings
Bassett hound with puppies

Hurley

The Hurley china 'Mother' thimbles are handpainted by Wendy Bowen

Mother's Rose
1978
Peonies
1979
photo: Brian Kagan
Horse and foal
1980
girl in blue picking flowers
1981

Queen's Fine bone china

Queen's produced a Grandmother thimble, featuring a Lily-of-the-valley - it is not dated.

Sutherland China

Sutherland has departed from the other English china 'Mother' thimbles.
It uses the wording 'Mother's Day'.
Again note the unique Sutherland shape - with a pointed apex.
The thimbles are not always dated.

1984
1984
this thimble was produced for
Scotland Direct
date written on inside

Other materials

Stephen Frost of Warwick Models in England has a pair of pewter thimbles with a mother theme.
They are in two sizes representing mother and daughter.
The pair are attractively boxed, but not dated.

T Kadletz of Austria produced a series of mother and daughter thimbles ie in matching designs but differing sizes.
They are made of lacquered brass.
Using a floral theme there are pairs of flowers with violets, carnations, chrystanthemums, daffodils, roses, pansies, sweetpeas, edelweiss, leaves and lily of the valley.

Peter Swingler is very well known for his handpainted enamel, over sterling silver thimbles, some of which were made by James Swann & Son [JS&S].

A Mother's rose
Mother's day 1975

Mother and baby
Mother's day 1977 (ii)

Whistler's Mother
Mother's day 1976

Sister and baby brother
Mother's day 1978

Mother and baby
Mother's day 1977 (i)

Mother and toddler
Mother's day 1979

Ray Coggle made sterling silver thimbles using the James Swann & Son [JS&S] mark from 1970-2005.

Mother's day 1988

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DO YOU KNOW ANY MORE DETAILS ABOUT 'MOTHER' THIMBLES?
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER 'MOTHER' THIMBLES NOT MENTIONED?
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER 'MOTHER' THIMBLES NOT PICTURED?
EMAIL thimbleselect@bigpond.com TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

References
Charlotte Goldberg Hurely porcelain thimbles / TCI Bulletin winter 2009. p.10-11
The Thimble Guild, Scotland catalogues and The Sewing Centre, New York catalogues

Contributors
This page would not have been possible without Sue Pickles
Thank you Sue for your generous help and sharing
Sue in turn had help from other collectors:
The Thimble Guild and all the members who wrote to Sue Pickles with so much valuable information
Others who helped Sue are Cathy Pezzotta | Jenny Yuhas | Pamela Bull | members of the Dorset Thimble Society
Mary Craft | Charlotte Goldberg | Lorraine Hatton | Kit Froebel | Terry Neilson | Joyce Nixon-Smith | Moyra Peckston | Linda Shaneyfelt | Audrey Turner

This listing of 'Mother' 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 9 December 2011
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	Mother's day 1978		Mother's day 1986
	Mother's day 1979		Mother's day 1987
	Mother's day 1980 Matching round trinket box		Mother's day 1988
	Mother's day 1981		Mother's day 1989
	Mother's day 1982		Mother's day 1990
	Mother's day 1983		Mother's day 1991
	Mother's day 1984		Mother's day 1992
	Mother's day 1985		Mother's day 1993

A Mother's rose Mother's day 1975	Mother and baby Mother's day 1977 (ii)
Whistler's Mother Mother's day 1976	Sister and baby brother Mother's day 1978
Mother and baby Mother's day 1977 (i)	Mother and toddler Mother's day 1979