Thimbles & Thimble Cases 

No. 5438 c.1900/1910 "Doris" Steel-Cored Thimble:  This steel cored thimble was made by Charles Iles and co. of Birmingham, but there is no maker's mark only the name "Doris" and the size number "14" (very large) on the band. The Iles firm specialised in thimbles made of steel and other base metals. It's thought that much of the "Doris" production was sold to other thimble makers who then put their own trademark on it. As such, thimbles with "Doris" on them are quite rare today (Information sourced from the Pelham Burn booklet on steel cored thimbles). This thimble has daisy knurling and a grid and then plain band. It is in excellent in round condition - no holes or damage. 2.5cm high. SOLD

Bouchet Agateware Thimbles: The making of marbled pottery can be traced back at least as far as the 1st century AD in Rome and examples of this pottery were produced as far away as China. "Modern" Agateware pottery was introduced in 1730 by Rowleys Pottery in Burslem, Staffordshire and later Josiah Wedgwood, Thomas Astbury, Josiah Spode and Ralph Browne also made this type of pottery. Due to the high cost and difficulties of manufacture it ceased being made about 1780. Around 180 years later, a small family pottery in Jersey, Channel Islands rediscovered the art which involves staining white clay with metal oxides. It took 20 years to develop from very humble Agateware effects in 1963 to the current range of items ( http://www.agateware.co.uk/index.html ). The secret of making the Agateware is a closely guarded secret of the Bouchet family. Agateware is handcrafted at every stage from initial blending to the handpainted pure 22ct gold banding - each piece is unique. Because of the production methods Agateware will never be produced in large quantities.

No. 3489 c.1986 Bouchet Agateware Thimble: Apricot and Cream commemorative for Queen Elizabeth II 60th Birthday. 3.2cm high. Excellent condition. Price: $90.00.

No. 3486 c. 1980s Bouchet Agateware Thimble: Blue and Fawn colourway. 3.2cm high in excellent condition. Price: $70.00.

No. 3485 c.1980s Bouchet Agateware Thimble: Green and white colourway. 3.2cm high in excellent condition. Price: $70.00.

No. 1180 c. 1980s Bouchet Agateware Thimble: With original leaflet in brown and cream colourway. 3.2cm high in excellent condition. Price: $70.00.

No. 1181 c. 1980s Bouchet Agateware Thimble: With original leaflet in mustard and dark blue colourway. 3.2cm high in excellent condition. Price: $70.00.

No 1183 c. 1980s Bouchet Agateware Thimble: With original leaflet in bright blue and yellow colourway. 3.2cm high in excellent condition. Price: $70.00.

No. 4251 c.1930s Bebarfald Aluminium Advertising Thimble: The rarer Melbourne version of this thimble reads "Bebarfald Bluebird Sewing Machines - 305 Lt Collins St, Melbourne". 1.8cm high with a "blue glass" top. It is in round and has slight chipping to the paint in the band but is otherwise in excellent used condition. SOLD

No. 3195 c. 15th Century English Brass Beehive Thimble (NOT reproduction): This finely indented brass medieval thimble has a fine line etched around the rim. In very good used condition with two tiny nicks to the rim which can be seen in the photos - this is not damaged but was used to hold the thimble when finishing on a lathe - see Holme's book for description and similar pictures. 1.4cm in diameter and 1.5cm high. Found in Hertfordshire, UK. A lovely item - one wonders who used it! SOLD

No. 3881 c. 1930s Aluminium Advertising Thimble: Reads "Bushells Blue Label Tea". 2cm high and in round with a "blue glass" top. Slight chipping to band but otherwise in excellent used condition. Price: $45.00.

No. 1188 c. 1890 RARE "Star" Dorcas Steel Lined Thimble: Marked "PAT 6" this Charles Horner thimble has had some use with some wear to the sides but there are no holes and it is in round. 2.4cm high. Price" $145.00.

No. 4666 c. 1920s/30s "Shell" Dorcas Steel Lined Thimble: Charles Horner thimble in hard to find pattern. Marked CH,7, Dorcas. In round and in excellent condition. 2cm high. Price: $110.00.

No. 156 c.1880s H. Muhr USA 18K Overlay Thimble: Nice clear marks and a brass top. 2.1cm high. A RARE thimble in very good condition. SOLD

No. 4760 Early 19th Century (Georgian) Child's Thimble and Ivory Thimble Case:  Ivory egg has a closed crack on the bottom piece but the egg screws together well and the ivory grain is quite clear. The egg contains a small brass thimble that has a small dent in it. 2.3cm closed. Price: $265.00.

No. 157 c. 1900/1910 Goldsmith Stern USA 10K Gold Thimble:  Carries the Goldsmith Stern mark and a 10K mark. This thimble is in round and in excellent condition. However it does have an engraved cartouche (intials AEA). It has plain knurling with a band of rich feather like flourishes. 1.9cm high. Price: $495.00.

No. 4519 HMSS c. 1921 James Fenton Thimble: Carries the marks for Birmingham 1921, James Fenton. Has a plain band, strongly struck daisy pattern and with no rolled rim. In excellent in-round condition. 2.3cm high. Price: $90.00.

No. 3866 c. 1940s "Elfin" Sterling Silver Thimble: Most probably Australian (see Gowan: Thimbles of Australia pp. 21-23 for a discussion of its history). In excellent in-round condition with the "emu footprint" design separated from the plain band by 2 grooves - no rolled rim. ELFIN is stamped on the band with the size "3". Stg Sil in a lozenge on the other side. 2cm high. SOLD

No. 142 c.1920s/30s "Daisy" Dorcas Steel Lined Thimble: Marked "CH" (Charles Horner), "7" (size) and "DORCAS". The Dorcas thimbles were two layers of silver encasing a steel lining. 2cm high. The thimble is in excellent condition - in round with no noticeable wear.SOLD

No.202 c.1981 Wedgwood Jasperware Boxed Royal Wedding Set: These are the most collectable of all the jasperware thimbles - and their original box is an added bonus. Two boxed blue and white jasperware thimbles issued to commemorate the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. In excellent condition. Price: $195.00.