Pewter Thimble
| This article discusses pewter thimbles. It explains what pewter is, what items have been produced and explains why pewter thimbles were not introduced sooner. It discusses reproductions and modern collectible pewter thimbles as well as the proper care of a collection. |
Thimbles
Pewter is the name assigned to a metal primarily made up of tin, with
other alloys present, such as copper. Early pewter contained lead but
the formula was changed in the mid-18th century because the lead content
was dangerous and tableware containing lead tarnished. The resultant
formula is called Britannia metal.
Although pewter was forged in England much earlier and used for
dinnerware and candlesticks, these items were expensive and limited to
the tables of the nobility. Pewter was not used for thimbles prior to
the 18th century because the thimbles could not be mass-produced, like
brass, and most people could not have afforded them. When they were
produced, pewter thimbles were primarily decorative rather than
practical. Most pewter thimbles are manufactured collectibles rather
than historical collectibles.
Because they are beautiful, many pewter thimbles were given as gifts,
particularly during the early 20th century. These thimbles were often
inscribed which makes them easier to date.
Since pewter was originally used for plate and tankards, the
relationship between sewing thimbles and thimbles for measuring spirits
comes together in pewter. A variety of new and vintage thimble spirit
measures are sold, usually in a 2-ounce size. They closely resemble
sewing thimbles but are somewhat larger, and make an interesting
addition to a thimble collection.
More detailed casting methods developed in the 1950s made more finely
detailed pewter items possible. Since then, many thimbles and other
antique sewing implements originally created in silver during Victorian
times are being reproduced in pewter. In addition, new series of pewter
thimbles are being produced to commemorate such events as the US
Bicentennial of 1976 or celebrate themes such as Mother Goose or Alice
in Wonderland. The country that produces the most pewter today is
Malaysia.
Pewter is susceptible to acids, pitting and tin blight, a surface
condition in which tiny nodules form on the surface of the item. Pewter
thimbles can be allowed to develop a patina, or cleaned using a variety
of commercially available products. Constant exposure to cigarette smoke
can also damage pewter. It is best to keep a pewter thimble collection
in a closed display case.
Despite the number of silver items being reproduced in pewter today,
pewter remains an important metal in its own right, used to produce a
variety of household items since antiquity. Although the thimble was a
latecomer to this field, the beauty of the highly detailed, imaginative
pewter thimbles produced today has made it worth the wait.