Eight AVON Thimble Ladies

Left to right dolls represent a particular fashion
from the following years: 1928, 1938, 1942, NS 1947.

Left to right dolls represent a particular fashion
from the following years: 1890, 1900, 1923 and 1927.

       Eight thimbles sold by AVON in 1983. The set had also a 12" mahogany rack designed to display the items. Each porcelain thimble represents a fashionable lady from a specific year: 

1. 1890 - blue ruffles, neck tie and hat + pink silk roses on hat
2. 1900 - rose color, puff sleeves, flower in hair, cameo
3. 1923 - pale lavender, with white fur collar, felt hat and lilac scarf on hat 
4. 1927 - flapper design, bright blue, turban with buckle, long pearl necklace, ruffled detachable collar to cover plunging neckline
5. 1928 - gold, amber flapper costume, draped strip scarf
6. 1938 - blue and white, flower in hair, chain, rose motif on sleeves
7. 1942 - hot pink, angel or bird wing motif across bust, grey gloves suggested
8. 1947 - violet plus hat, no vail, 3 white flower on corsage

       Originally, thimbles were used simply solely for pushing a needle through fabric or leather as it was being sewn. Since then, however, they have gained many other uses. From the 16th century onwards silver thimbles were regarded as an ideal gift for ladies.
       Early Meissen porcelain and elaborate, decorated gold thimbles were also given as 'keepsakes' and were usually quite unsuitable for sewing. This tradition has continued to the present day. In the early modern period, thimbles were used to measure spirits, and gunpowder, which brought rise to the phrase "just a thimbleful". Prostitutes used them in the practice of thimble-knocking where they would tap on a window to announce their presence. Thimble-knocking also refers to the practice of Victorian schoolmistresses who would tap on the heads of unruly pupils with dames thimbles.
       Before the 18th century the small dimples on the outside of a thimble were made by hand punching, but in the middle of that century, a machine was invented to do the job. A thimble with an irregular pattern of dimples was likely made before the 1850s. Another consequence of the mechanization of thimble production is that the shape and the thickness of the metal changed. Early thimbles tend to be quite thick and to have a pronounced dome on the top. The metal on later ones is thinner and the top is flatter.

Thimbles from many different countries, made from a variety of materials.

       Collecting thimbles became popular in the UK when many companies made special thimbles to commemorate the Great Exhibition held in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London. In the 19th century, many thimbles were made from silver; however, it was found that silver is too soft a metal and can be easily punctured by most needles. Charles Horner solved the problem by creating thimbles consisting of a steel core covered inside and out by silver, so that they retained their aesthetics but were now more practical and durable. He called his thimble the Dorcas, and these are now popular with collectors. There is a small display of his work in Bankfield Museum, Halifax, England.
       Early American thimbles made of whale bone or tooth featuring miniature scrimshaw designs are considered valuable collectibles. Such rare thimbles are prominently featured in a number of New England Whaling Museums.
       During the First World War, silver thimbles were collected from "those who had nothing to give" by the British government and melted down to buy hospital equipment. In the 1930s and 1940s glass-topped thimbles were used for advertising.
       Leaving a sandalwood thimble in a fabric store was a common practice for keeping moths away. Thimbles have also been used as love-tokens and to commemorate important events. People who collect thimbles are known as digitabulists. One superstition about thimbles says that if a person has three thimbles given to them, they will never be married.

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