Thimbles - An Ever Popular Hobby
Thimbles have been produced in all colours and designs for over a century and can be found in almost every corner of the world. Many thimbles will have been produced from some exquisite materials that have been richly decorated, which can turn out to be quite valuable, as well as beautiful to look at.
The first thimble ever produced in England was in 1695 by a Dutch metal worker named Lofting. He called the " thumb-bell," because it was worn on the thumb when in use, and shaped like a bell. This shape eventually developed and changed slightly, but the name, softened into 'thimble', a term that remains and is in we common usage today.
As time went on the thimble became a necessity in every household in order to keep the fingers nimble and without puncture. They were what young men used to give to their loved ones as a symbol of appreciation for all their hard work during mending and sewing.
Thimbles are made from an ever increasing number of materials, many made from rubber, wood, metal, and leather. However, the collector thimbles which are made from ivory, or glass. Famous brands would include Spode, Wedgewood, Royal Worcester, and Royal Doulton, who are among the exceptional brands producing these highly collectable thimbles.
Thimbles that mark an important event or a special occasion, such as the recent Royal Birth, are a great way to mark the vent. As with anything, some will be better than others and each design has its own unique design, color, or imperfections that make it very special to each person or event.
Thimble collecting can be rewarding, fun, and the costs covering a wide price range - part of its appeal to a wide and divers range of collectors. So where can you can you find a good selection of thimbles and thimble accessories to collect? The Internet is a great place to start with online store s such as the Thimble Guild offering a huge range of thimbles and other thimble related goods, for example display cases. Car boot events are another excellent place to locate a thimble, and don’t forget antique shops and the like.
They can be a great way to get into collecting, can be visually attractive, easy to locate (particularly using the Internet), can be inexpensive and even a relatively large collection won’t take up a lot of space. And although thimbles are not used as much in our daily lives as before, they are still a great ‘collectable’ and retain a special place in the homes of many modern day thimble collectors.
Did you know?
The first thimble was created just after the birth of Christ, in 1st century Pompeii, Rome.
The word 'thimble' is derived from the old English word for 'thumb'.
A person who collects thimbles as a hobby is called a 'digitabulist'.
It is very easy to begin a thimble collection and you do not need a lot of money to start collecting them. In addition, because of the internet, sites including the Thimble Guild will help you look for thimbles for your collection. If you want to find the “older” thimbles, you will often find them in antique shops or, sometimes, at car boot fairs.
If you want to make a start and get involved in this ever popular hobby then why not visit the Thimble Guild website and see what they have on offer. However, be prepared to be hooked on this hobby - as you learn more about the unique and true gems that a collector can sometimes just stumble. You will become a bona find a digitabulist and will likely begin looking everywhere you are for that special or one of a kind thimble.
The first thimble ever produced in England was in 1695 by a Dutch metal worker named Lofting. He called the " thumb-bell," because it was worn on the thumb when in use, and shaped like a bell. This shape eventually developed and changed slightly, but the name, softened into 'thimble', a term that remains and is in we common usage today.
As time went on the thimble became a necessity in every household in order to keep the fingers nimble and without puncture. They were what young men used to give to their loved ones as a symbol of appreciation for all their hard work during mending and sewing.
Thimbles are made from an ever increasing number of materials, many made from rubber, wood, metal, and leather. However, the collector thimbles which are made from ivory, or glass. Famous brands would include Spode, Wedgewood, Royal Worcester, and Royal Doulton, who are among the exceptional brands producing these highly collectable thimbles.
Thimbles that mark an important event or a special occasion, such as the recent Royal Birth, are a great way to mark the vent. As with anything, some will be better than others and each design has its own unique design, color, or imperfections that make it very special to each person or event.
Thimble collecting can be rewarding, fun, and the costs covering a wide price range - part of its appeal to a wide and divers range of collectors. So where can you can you find a good selection of thimbles and thimble accessories to collect? The Internet is a great place to start with online store s such as the Thimble Guild offering a huge range of thimbles and other thimble related goods, for example display cases. Car boot events are another excellent place to locate a thimble, and don’t forget antique shops and the like.
They can be a great way to get into collecting, can be visually attractive, easy to locate (particularly using the Internet), can be inexpensive and even a relatively large collection won’t take up a lot of space. And although thimbles are not used as much in our daily lives as before, they are still a great ‘collectable’ and retain a special place in the homes of many modern day thimble collectors.
Did you know?
The first thimble was created just after the birth of Christ, in 1st century Pompeii, Rome.
The word 'thimble' is derived from the old English word for 'thumb'.
A person who collects thimbles as a hobby is called a 'digitabulist'.
It is very easy to begin a thimble collection and you do not need a lot of money to start collecting them. In addition, because of the internet, sites including the Thimble Guild will help you look for thimbles for your collection. If you want to find the “older” thimbles, you will often find them in antique shops or, sometimes, at car boot fairs.
If you want to make a start and get involved in this ever popular hobby then why not visit the Thimble Guild website and see what they have on offer. However, be prepared to be hooked on this hobby - as you learn more about the unique and true gems that a collector can sometimes just stumble. You will become a bona find a digitabulist and will likely begin looking everywhere you are for that special or one of a kind thimble.