SEE ADDITIONAL PICTURES BELOW

Early size 9 dome top, steel cored, silver clad Star Pattern Dorcas thimble with hammered effect rim. Stamped PAT. (Patent) and 9 (the size) on the rim. Made by Charles Horner, ca.1890. Like all early Dorcas thimbles this thimble is not marked "DORCAS". In excellent condition the black marks are not holes just dirt - free of holes, dents and damage. Height approx. 2.2 cm; internal base diameter approx. 1.45 cm; weight 7 grams. 

For more information about early Dorcas and other steel-cored, silver clad thimbles see Identifying Steel-Cored Thimbles by Diane Pelham Burn, Dorset Thimble Society No. 2 1993 and No. 3 1997. This particular design can be found on page 4 (No. 9) of the 1993 article where it is described as: "Star-shaped depressions surrounded by tiny dots, 2 rows of facets on band."

Charles Horner, the son of a weaver, was born in 1837 (the year Queen Victoria acceded to the throne) and died in 1896. Charles was the founder of the unique Halifax jewellery business and achieved much in his 59 years with his innovation and undoubted marketing skills. He laid the foundations of a thriving business which survived two world wars only to be closed in the late 20th century.

The Charles Horner factory in Halifax produced a wide range of products during the 20th century. These included bangles, buttons and badges, bracelets, art nouveau pendants, brooches and hatpins, cufflinks, earrings, charms and other jewellery and giftware.

Nineteenth century dowagers, dames and daughters often hurt their fingers when their sewing needles penetrated the soft silver thimbles - until Charles Horner came to their rescue. He hit on the brilliantly simple, but very effective idea of sandwiching a strong steel core between an inner and outer decorated silver shell, which he patented in the 1880s. The durable and safe 'silver' thimble was born and was named by Charles Horner as the Dorcas thimble.

THE CHARLES HORNER DORCAS THIMBLE

These steel cored silver thimbles were first granted a patent on June 14, 1884 (Pat. No. 8954). A US Patent was granted on June 11, 1889 (Pat. No. 404,910). The original Dorcas had a domed top whereas the later improved Dorcas had a flat top. 

The original Dorcas was made until 1905. Four of the early Dorcas patterns were registered, DIAMOND (1887 - Reg. No. 73626 though this should really be 73624), LOUISE (1889 - Reg. No. 127211), SHELL (1893 - Reg. No. 210799), and PRINCESS MAY (Reg. No. 210800). Non registered designs were: ENGRAVED, DAISY, PERSIAN, STAR and FLORA. The Improved Dorcas was introduced in 1905 and manufactured until 1948 when production ceased. The flat top Dorcas was a further modification to the design introduced ca. 1919 after World War I. Even though the outer and inner layers were made of thick sterling silver Dorcas thimbles were disqualified from hallmarking because of the steel core.

The name Dorcas comes from the Bible. Dorcas was a seamstress who lived at Joppa and she dedicated her life to making clothes for those in need. See Acts Chapter 9, Verses 36-39. In the nineteenth century church women formed Dorcas Sewing Circles to continue her work of sewing for the poor.