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Early Charles Horner Dorcas Thimble Rd127211

Name: Early Charles Horner Dorcas Thimble Rd127211
SKU: as470a416
Price: 30.00 GBP
Availability: SoldOut

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We have the pleasure of being able to offer an early Charles Horner Dorcas thimble.

This Charles Horner size 9 thimble c1889-1905 is in the Louise pattern and is marked with the registered design no Rd127211 Pat and the number 9.

The thimble is in a very good antique condition.

History of the Dorcas thimble
In the Victorian period a fashion developed for ornate silver thimbles to be given as an engagement gift. Presumably this reflected the fact that the thimble represented a sort of contract in which not only did the lucky lady acquire a future husband but also the repair of his clothes. The thimble in this sense can really be considered as the precursor to an engagement ring. The problem with silver thimbles was that they were not fit for purpose. The silver being softer than steel needles meant that when used, silver thimbles were often punctured by needles wounding the user. In 1885 Charles Horner patented a revolutionary new silver thimble with a steel core - what was to become the Dorcas thimble. This new premium silver thimble could be ornately decorated so would serve as an engagement gift, but could also be safely used. Needless to say the new thimble took the sewing world by storm and made what was then the small Halifax manufacturing jeweler Charles Horner into a household name and a thriving international business.

The early Charles Horner thimbles were originally marked Pat with a thimble size (between 1-13), some were marked patent and between 1889 and 1905 some were marked with one of three registered design numbers, one of which was Rd127211. Post 1905 the Dorcas thimbles were marked Dorcas with the Charles Horner mark and size No.

References

Charles Horner, Morgan Denyer. Penrose Antiques Short Guides, ISBN 9783741852275 (paperback) or ISBN: 9783741852503
(ebook).

Charles Horner of Halifax: A Celebration of His Life and Works, Tom J Lawson. GML Publishing, ISBN: 0954235401

Price

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The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 28/NOV/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
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Early Charles Horner Dorcas Thimble Rd127211

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