top of page

Learn More About Thimbles

I reached my 100th thimble topic in June 2024. It took me 22 years. 

The topics began in 2002. The first topic was on Francesca character head thimbles, which were a popular collectable that year.

Sterling silver thimbles were created primarily by four British makers between 1870 and World War II: James Fenton, Henry Griffith, Charles Horner and James Swann. Their thimbles were made for sewing and were available from jewellers and haberdashers. Collectors could source antique thimbles thru the Thimble Society of London, owned by Bridget McConnel (1981-2009).

In 1980 the collectable thimbles market evolved and has lasted until the mid 2010s. British china makers like Royal Worcester and Wedgwood etc were joined by the prolific thimblemakers like Felix Morel, Woodsetton and Tony Bouchet. Now I have been researching the smallest producers of thimbles from the 1980s, so that they don't go unacknowledged. Many of the thimbles made for this market were never intended to be used for sewing and many have no makers marks.

Those makers (both large and small, including talented craftsmen) were in a symbiotic relationship with The Thimble Guild (1983-2018), which Arthur Bell owned in Biggar Scotland. Franklin Mint and Thimble Collectors Club etc also played their part in disseminating these thimbles.

I have a full set of the TTG catalogues and they have often formed the basis of photos for my topics. A third source of information and photos are collectors around the world, who have been extraordinarily generous in sharing photos from their thimble collections (listed as Contributors at the end of each topic).

Collectors now are dependent on the second-hand market to source their thimbles and markets like eBay have given me a wealth of photos accessible nowhere else.

About one third of the topics are thematic (covering many different thimble makers) – the rest are about British and Australian makers. The topics range in length from two pages to 120 pages.

THANK YOU one and all for making this the most visited thimble site on the internet.

Your contributions are highly prized.

​There are 110 different thimble topics for you to browse and contribute to. Happy browsing

New topics for May: 

Roger Harrison of Kelso thimbles 1983-1988

Iles' handpainted and decaled plastic thimbles

Roger Gibbons pewter thimbles 1984-1985

Ian Parry  (Coventry) thimbles 1984-1989

Click on the accompanying photo to learn more about each topic.

Heading 6
empire 1899 natal.JPG

Alfred Bromet (AB&Co) thimbles including the Empire thimble 1893-1910

November 2023 - last updated 6 March 2025

move aus ads allowrie1.JPG

Australian advertising thimbles

February 2015 - last updated 17 May  2025

Aus hp beate australian flora.jpg

Australian handpainted thimbles and sewing tools

October 2021 - last updated 31 March 2025

wix2.JPG

Australian modern sterling silver thimble and sewing tool makers

July 2022 - last updated 2 April 2025

a australia's elfin.jpg

Australia's Elfin thimbles

April 2016 - last updated 1 March 2022

pretty belleek.jpg

Belleek thimbles

February 2010 - last updated 26 May 2023

pretty bing.jpg

Bing & Grondahl porcelain thimbles 1977-1988

February 2010 - last updated 4 March 2022

pincushion pot 1890 _cork on base.jpg

Bog oak sewing tools

February 2024 - last updated 7 March 2025

pretty bostock.jpg

Boscastle thimbles 1980-2020

May 2021 - last updated 24 February 2024

w hall.jpg

Brass advertising thimbles

January 2009 - last updated 11 June 2025

qe_2000_sheffield_hbh.jpg

British royalty on thimbles

October 2006-December 2020 - last updated 3 June 2025  

jschester.jpg

British sterling silver placename thimbles

April 2005 - last updated 12 June 2025

a canadian.jpg

Canadian leather thimbles

April 2014 - last updated 6 March 2025

wix carol edwards.jpg

Carol Edwards of Coll Pottery and Horizon China thimbles

September 2022 - last updated 7 March 2025

MOVE  Charles H jt&s 1893b 10.jpg

Charles Horner Ltd sterling silver thimbles made with other sponsor’s marks

April 2020 - last updated 23 November 2024

a CH pat1.jpg

Charles Horner's early Dorcas PAT. thimbles

July 2020 - last updated 26 July 2024

WIX charles iles.jpg

Charles Iles' The ... thimbles and boxes

February 2010 - last updated 4 November 2024

1918_bb.jpg

Charles May (CM) sterling silver and gold thimbles 1860-1929

June 2003 - last updated 5 February 2025

wix flopsy bunnies ww.jpg

Children's books characters on thimbles

March 2025 - last updated 19 May 2025

sp_1986.jpg

Christmas thimbles

June 2003 - last updated 4 May 2025

paddo.jpg

Coalport thimbles

November 2004 - last updated 9 November 2024

pretty cornish.jpg

Cornish Enamels thimbles 1995-1997

February 2021 - last updated 22 May 2025

WIX crummles.jpg

Crummles enamelled thimbles and other needlework tools 1981-2001

February 2010 - last updated 13 March 2025

thelittledorcasbox.jpg

Dorcas thimble boxes

September 2004 - last updated 27 September 2022

hc_1982a.jpg

Easter thimbles

April 2003 - last updated 15 April 2025

wix.jpg

Felix Morel of Bath 1984-2002

March 2021 - last updated 15 January 2025

unhat+ch.jpg

Francesca and other character head thimbles

September 2002-June 2020 - last updated  23 April 2025

others magneto1b.jpg

Gadget thimbles

March 2003 - last updated 30 May 2025

WIX victorian gold & silver.jpg

Girls’ names on Victorian gold and sterling silver thimbles

February 2010 - last updated 3 June 2025

WIX georg jensen.jpg

Georg Jensen sterling silver thimbles

February 2010 - last updated 28 February 2022

wix.jpg

George Goodman (GG) and Gomms (G'S) sterling silver thimbles 

August 2022 - last updated 20 March 2025

WIX george unite.jpg

George Unite (GU) sterling silver thimbles and needlework tools 1872-1930

February 2010 - last updated 27 July 2023

butterfly large blue butterfly 1.jpg

Gerald Delaney's handpainted china thimbles 1989-1993

May 2020 - last updated 6 February 2024

glass special czech blue hp.jpg

Glass and crystal thimble makers

June 2020 - last updated 10 June 2025

MOVE payne pheasant en1 js.jpg

Graham Payne thimbles 1981-1996

May 2020 - last updated 8 April 2025

coalport.jpg

(TCC) Hallmarked thimbles of the World's Great Porcelain Houses

July 2005 - last updated 24 February 2024

WIX harrods.jpg

Harrods thimbles

February 2010 - last updated 7 August 2024

a hazrah.jpg

Hazrah handpainted bronze thimbles (Mauritius) 2006-2009

July 2021 - last updated 11 June 2025

a pretty.jpg

HF thimble makers: sterling silver thimbles made by Henry Foskett -
Henry Fidkin - Henry Fowler

June 2022 - last updated 4 June 2025

wix.JPG

Highland China thimbles 1977-1985

September 2022 - last updated 25 May 2025

horn wix.jpg

Horn and bone thimbles

March 2024 - last updated 11 June 2025

a horner.jpg

Horner and hearts

January 2017 - last updated  5 June 2025

w owl and the moon ss x 2 87_JT.jpg

Ian Parry (Coventry) thimbles 1984-1989

May 2025 - last updated  9 June 2025 
NEW

W flowers hyacinths top_weytreasure.JPG

Iles' handpainted and decaled plastic thimbles

May 2025 - last updated  20 May 2025
NEW

a innes.jpg

Innes Mitchell pyrographed wooden thimbles (Scotland)

June 2021 - last updated 30 July 2024

MOVE interesting freunde1.jpg

Interesting lettering and symbols on thimbles

April 2015 - last updated 10 June 2025

a irish d.jpg

Irish Dresden thimbles

May 2017 - last updated 16 March 2023

wix.jpg

Ivory thimbles

June 2024 - last updated 30 May 2025

jacqui.jpg

Jacqui and David Parker of Olivia (Birmingham) thimbles 1983-1996, 1998, 2003

May 2024 - last updated 6 June 2025

a jasper's.jpg

Jasper's of Yorkshire handpainted thimbles 1992-2001

March 2021 - last updated 27 April 2024

a jenny b.jpg

Jenny Blair Designs' thimbles 1981-1993

December 2020 - last updated 26 July 2024

WIX kay thetford.jpg

Kay Thetford Kendall (DWK and KE) sterling silver thimbles 1983-1998

February 2010 - last updated 12 June 2025

2000.jpg

Marks on British sterling silver and gold thimbles

November 2002 - last updated 3 JUne 2025

wix halex #1 bk854.jpg

Marks on plastic thimbles

December 2022 - last updated 3 May 2023

camel palms figure.jpg

Marsh Arab thimbles

November 2023 - last updated 25 May  2025

WIX mason's.jpg

Mason's ironstone china thimbles

February 2010 - last updated 26 February 2022

wix merryfield.jpg

Merryfield Pottery thimbles Torquay Devon 2004-

September 2024 - last updated  23 April 2025

MOVE metal egg floral sprig mini1.jpg

Metal egg-shaped thimble holders and others

April 2018 - last updated  31 July 2024

WIX m i dorman.jpg

Michael Dormon-Brailsford (DB) sterling silver thimbles 1981-1984

February 2010 - last updated 26 July 2023

a minton.jpg

Minton thimbles 1985-1996

January 2012 - last updated 25 August 2021

halcyon mushrooms_heggs1a.jpg

Modern British enamelled thimbles

March 2022- last updated 31 March 2025

burns kingfisher 3D_forest.jpg

Modern British handpainted china thimbles

February 2022 - last updated 3 June 2025

MOVE%20modern%20pvm_edited.jpg

Modern British sterling silver thimble makers 1955-2022

March 2016 - last updated 12 June 2025

wix.jpg

Morioti of Norwich wooden thimbles 1985-1990

December 2024 - last updated 10 June 2025

cav_1991_2.jpg

Mother thimbles

May 2003 - last updated 9 May 2025

nenthorn.jpg

Nenthorn Studios thimbles (Scotland) 1985-1986

May 2024 - last updated 12 June 2025

box oa&s 1901 15.jpg

Olney, Amsden (OA and OA&S) thimbles 1887-1914

September 2023 - last updated 22 March 2025

wix.jpg

Olympic Games thimbles 1896-2016

January 2025 - last updated 24 April 2025

wix blanshard.png

Peter Blanshard pottery thimbles 1970-1980

October 2023 - last updated 9 November 2024

MOVE swingler K&Q henry viii 1983a.jpg

Peter Swingler's handpainted thimbles 1968-2014

May 2020 - last updated 23 May 2025

pretty pewter marks.jpg

Pewter thimble makers from around the world with their marks

November 2020 - last updated 12 June 2025

a philip an.jpg

Philip Antrobus (PA) sterling silver thimbles 1878-1898

March 2013 - last updated 6 August 2023

wix.jpg

Placename thimbles from around the world

May 2023 - last update 11 June 2025

WIX poole.jpg

Poole Pottery thimbles

February 2010 - last updated 24 February 2024

a porsgrund.jpg

Porsgrund porcelain thimbles 1978-1985

February 2014 - last updated 9 July 2022

MOVE%20qv%201840%20v%26a3_edited.jpg

Queen Victoria commemorative thimbles and needlework tools

2013 - last updated 4 June 2025

MOVE retail aus d.mackay&co queen st opp

Retail jeweller's thimble cases and boxes

May 2020 - last updated 19 September 2024

wix rp.jpg

Robert Pringle & Sons (RP) thimbles 1891-1923

October 2023 - last updated 20 March 2025

W blue tit blue.jpg

Roger Gibbons pewter thimbles 1984-1985

May 2025 - last updated 9 June 2025 
NEW

W prett post office.jpg

Roger Harrison of Kelso thimbles 1983-1988

May 2025 - last updated 20 May 2025 
NEW

highland.jpg

Royal Albert bone china thimbles 1980-1990

April 2008 - last updated 15 June 2022

WIX royal copen.jpg

Royal Copenhagen porcelain thimbles 1980-1983

February 2010 - last updated 28 February 2022

yorkrose.jpg

Royal Crown Derby thimbles 1936-2002

September 2005 - last updated 13 February 2025

91_balloonseller.jpg

Royal Doulton thimbles 1980-2004

May 2009 - last updated 29 September 2023

a royal tara.jpg

Royal Tara thimbles 1980-1985

September 2021 - last updated 13 March 2024

cham_garls.jpg

Royal Worcester decal thimbles 1960-1993

February 2007 - last updated 16 July 2024

abillsiris.jpg

Royal Worcester handpainted thimbles

October 2002 - last updated 4 June 2025

s_1905_1.jpg

Samuel Foskett (SF) sterling silver thimbles 1889-1908

October 2002 - last updated 17 November 2023

WIX SCOTTISH.jpg

Scottish wooden thimbles

February 2023 - last updated 30 May 2025

spode_sailing ship1.jpg

Spode thimbles 1976-1992

March 2004 - last updated 15 February 2025

picketts.jpg

Sterling silver advertising thimbles - including jewellers and ships

February 2006 -  last updated 1 June 2025

walterscott.jpg

Sterling silver scenic thimbles and needlework tools

January 2008 - last updated 4 JUne 2025

strat754.jpg

Stratnoid thimbles and other tools

August 2003 - last updated 28 October 2023

a sydney.jpg

Sydney Opera House thimbles

January 2014 - last updated 24 April 2025

cott.jpg

SylvaC thimbles 1978-1982

October 2004 - last updated 7 November 2024

gowan1.jpg

Thimble and needlework tool books

January 2003 - last updated 15 December 2024

shozanhikari.jpg

Thimble Collectors Club thimbles

October-November 2003 - last updated 11 April 2025

a thimble craft.jpg

Thimble Craft by Shirley porcelain thimbles 1986-1996

2013 - last updated 19 May 2024

bee.jpg

Thimblefuls

February 2003 - last updated 9 June 2025

wix bead loom gallery usa heart.jpg

Thimbles made from unusual materials

November 2024 - last updated 11 June 2025

humility.jpg

Thimbles with slogans

November 2005 - last update 10 June 2025

wix.jpg

Tony Bouchet's agateware thimbles (Jersey) 1984-2007

March 2024 - last updated 8 September 2024

wix topazio.jpg

Topazio, Portugal silver thimbles

September 2024 - last updated 30 May 2025

celtic book of kells.jpg

Wedgwood bone china thimbles 1983-2007

September 2006 - last updated 24 March 2023

qe_sage1.jpg

Wedgwood Jasperware thimbles 1980-2012

August 2002 - last updated 4 June 2025

a white heron.jpg

White Heron thimbles (New Zealand)

August 2016 - last updated 18 December 2022

a who made.jpg

Who made these named thimbles - "AUSSIE" - Coroza - INVICTA

2012 - last updated 1 February 2024

wix woodsetton.jpg

Woodsetton thimbles 1983-2015

April 2024 - last updated  11 June 2025

hammersley.jpg

(Franklin Mint) Thimbles of the World's Greatest Porcelain Houses

January 2004  - last updated 9 February 2020

© 2020 by Another Beautiful Christie Design. Proudly made with  Wix.com

bottom of page