Medieval brass Thimble - 17 mm (No reserve price)

Medieval Brass Thimble

Culture / Period: Medieval / Early Modern
Date / Period: 15th–16th century
Material: Brass
Dimensions: 17 mm
Condition: Good condition, with age-related surface wear and patination

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 985

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the thimble from R.N. in Katwijk, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, R.N. from Katwijk, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s. According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
Thimbles were essential tools for sewing and textile work during the late medieval and early modern periods. Worn over the fingertip, they protected the finger while allowing sufficient pressure to be applied to the end of a needle when stitching heavier fabrics. They were used in both domestic needlework and professional textile production, an important part of everyday economic and household life.

This example has the characteristic domed form of late-medieval and early post-medieval thimbles. Its surface is extensively covered with small indentations designed to catch the head of the needle and prevent it from slipping. A plain band defines the lower edge. The arrangement and execution of these indentations reflect the practical craftsmanship involved in producing a durable working tool.

Brass was particularly suitable for thimbles because it combined durability with sufficient workability for shaping and finishing. By the later Middle Ages, thimble manufacture formed part of an increasingly specialised metalworking tradition. Examples circulated through urban and regional markets alongside needles and other small implements associated with the important European textile trades.

Dating to the 15th–16th century, this thimble belongs to a period in which textile manufacture, tailoring and domestic sewing were fundamental aspects of European life. Despite its modest size, it represents a highly personal working object, handled repeatedly in the making and repair of clothing and household textiles. It forms a tangible connection to everyday craftsmanship at the transition from the medieval to the early modern world.