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We Beg Your Acceptance of this Elegant Thimble

'But who is to give the prizes?' quite a chorus of voices asked.

 

'Why, SHE, of course,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice with one finger; and the whole party at once crowded round her, calling out in a confused way, 'Prizes! Prizes'

 

Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand in her pocket, and pulled out a box of comfits, (luckily the salt water had not got into it), and handed them round as prizes. There was exactly one a-piece all round.

 

'But she must have a prize herself, you know,' said the Mouse.

 

'Of course,' the Dodo replied very gravely. 'What else have you got in your pocket?' he went on, turning to Alice.

 

'Only a thimble,' said Alice sadly.

 

'Hand it over here,' said the Dodo.

 

Then they all crowded round her once more, while the Dodo solemnly presented the thimble, saying 'We beg your acceptance of this elegant thimble'; and, when it had finished this short speech, they all cheered.

 

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” – Lewis Carroll

 

The theme for for "Looking Close… on Friday" for Friday 9th of May is "combination of letters and numbers". In this case, I have chosen the details of one of my favourite thimbles from my sterling silver collection. Around its rim, it features the number 16, which probably refers to the pattern number, and the letters H G & S, which are the makers’ initials. In this case they stand for Henry Griffith and Sons who were a well known silversmiths and were one of the leading producers of sterling silver thimbles in Britain. So in this case, both the numbers and letters have meaning. I do hope you like my choice for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile!

 

This floral thimble is sterling silver and was made by silversmiths Henry Griffith and Sons in Birmingham in 1897. Henry Griffith and Sons commenced in 1850, was continued as Henry Griffith & Sons (until 1898) and later as Henry Griffith & Sons Ltd. They were well known for their manufacture of silver thimbles, and later for their silver and gold jewellery. They closed their doors in 1982. Thimble making was part of the Griffith family heritage. The father of Henry Griffith was a thimble maker and was put in charge of the thimbles departments at the beginning of his son's activity. The Griffiths became one of the leading producers of silver thimbles and were one of the only silversmiths who marked some of their thimbles with 'Sterling Silver' instead of having them hallmarked.

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Uploaded on May 8, 2025
Taken on April 25, 2025