Royal Worcester Thimble Painters - Thimbleselect Catalogue

Learn more about Royal Worcester
Thimble Painters

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THERE ARE 22 PAGES OF THIMBLES & OTHER ITEMS TO BUY
aluminium 1 - books 1 - brass 1 - china 6 - display cases 1
gold 1 - needlework tools 2 - other collectables 1 - pewter 1 - plastic 1
silver 3 - steel & metal 1 - unusual materials 1 - wood 1

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INTRODUCTION - THIMBLE PAINTERS - DATING THIMBLES

I have always had a deep love for handpainted Royal Worcester thimbles.
My best find is an unmarked 19th century handpainted bird, with the lovely translucent porcelain of early Worcester's and the taller, narrow shape of their early thimbles. This was found here in Brisbane.
Then there is the handpainted Kookaburra (1926) that Edwin Holmes first described in May 1994.
Neither of these are signed, but that doesn't bother me too much.

1926 1926 1932
Examples of early unsigned or undated Royal Worcester thimbles

Example of a Royal Worcester cardboard thimble box - found with thimbles with a puce mark

It's very hard to find much information on thimbles produced by Royal Worcester. There is a list of Royal Worcester painters in Von Hoelle's Encyclopedia, but it's known to have been incomplete. Hopefully this listing will go somewhat to remedy this. The Sandon listing is only complete until 1971.

THIMBLE PAINTERS
The list of Royal Worcester thimble painters includes dates that each painter is known to have painted for Royal Worcester.
I have included as many examples for each artist as possible with the thimble's date being included where known.

The list is far from complete but now a start has been made, other names or thimbles can be added. To date there are 226 artists listed that are thought to have painted thimbles (this includes women painters' maiden and married names). So far - with help from collectors around the world - 126 have examples of their thimbles included: we're more than half way there!! William Powell is the most all time prolific thimble artist at this stage!!
Please share your photos, especially if your handpainted thimble artist hasn't yet an example alongside. Thank you in advance.
As thimbles are so small, when names were too long they were sometimes shortened or only initials used. I have included the first names even when not part of the signature. If you know the first name of a RW painter, listed here, please share. Most signatures only contain the initial and surname. The signature is usually on the back of the thimble alongside a leaf or flower sprig. They were never signed inside the thimble.

As more thimbles have been added to this site, scrolling down the page, you will notice how many identical paintings there are, done by different artists, especially amongst the later painters. Once you have handled or looked at the scenes, you will soon be able to identify the later style of painting, even tho the thimbles aren't dated.

Have you ever thought why they were painted? I understand that in the modern era [ie 1964 onwards], that thimbles were only painted when there was not many orders coming in and were used to practice their painting skills. Because they were so small they were easy to finish but they were not really done to be sold!!
If only they could see the prices being fetched on eBay for these very same thimbles!!

The English garden birds commonly handpainted are - kingfishers, wrens, blue tits, bullfinches, goldfinches, chaffinchs and robins, tho the expert bird painters will include more specialised birds.
Yellow roses predominate with irises and violets following, amongst the flower paintings in the modern era.
Do you collect RW thimbles by the painter, the era painted, the type of bird or the flower featured?

The modern painters include Fiona Bakewell, Janet Collins, Clair Cox, Pat Dunkley, Margaret Igoe, Christine Parker, Susanne Roberts (nee Waldron), Dorothy Sparks, Julia Vass - all who painted from the 1970s onwards.

With the modern painters, when the backstamp is not dated (ie 1964-), I have used the generic date of "1960s-" to indicate that they are a modern painter. They may have been with RW at a later date but I feel that this information may be more useful this way? If you know more specific dates, please contact me with this information.

LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY LAST NAME
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

' Abdul ' - Peter Platt's nickname
James Allen example of signature 1937-1958 and 1971	1954 1954 1954 1954
A Amolet
C D Anns
Annette Arnold [ O ] [b 1953] example of signature 1966-
Reginald Harry Austin [b 1890] ca.1920-1955	known to have painted Australiana
Walter Harry Austin [1891-1971] ca.1920-1930	known to have painted Australiana
Harry (Timothy) Ayrton [b 1905] 1920-1970 - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	known to have painted fruit

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Arthur Badham [b 1935] example of signature 1951-	1951
William (Bill) Bagnall 1918-1930s - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	known to have painted fruit
Fiona Bakewell [F Bwell] [b 1956] example of full signature example of short signature - maiden name Fiona Round 1973-
Gerald Banks example of signature 1950-	1955 1955 1955 1955 1955
Ernest Barker [b 1890] 1920s-1956 - also painted under the name of B A Kerr
David Barrett	--
William (Bill) Bee 1918-1930s - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	known to have painted fruit
Maude Bell 1904-1931	--
Anthea Bills [ AB ] example of signature example of signature 1970-
M Bills 1959, 1960
F Bizl	--
Kitty Blake [b 1920] example of signature 1941-1951	1950 1950
Tony Blakemore 1970-	--
T Blem	--
I Bon. example of signature example of signature 1960s-	1960 1958?
C Bootle example of signature
R or P Born example of signature 1958, 1963
P Bough	--
Edith Bradley [ C Brad ] example of signature
R Bridle example of signature 1960s- this artist's thimbles haven't any gold trims
Merry Brooke [b 1908] 1927-ca.1950	--
E Brown 1960s- example of signature
Fanny Brown 1875-	--
Carolyn Bullock [ C Bulli ] - married name Carolyn Hammond 1968-1970
E Burkin	--
R Bury	--
A Buss	--

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Christine Cameron [b 1951] example of signature 1975-
S Carn	--
Wendy Clarke	--
Cole
P Colin example of signature	1959
Janet Collins [b 1957] example of signature 1970s-
M Cotton example of signature
K Coty	known to have painted birds
Bryan Cox 1956	known to have painted kingfishers
Clair Cox [b 1958] example of signature example of signature 1975-
Nigel Creed 1963	--
Charlie Creese 1925-1938
D Cy

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Alina Dajda [b 1953] example of signature 1975-1977
T Davies	--
A Davis example of signature	1954
C Davis example of signature 1950s	1959 1959
L Davis 1959	known to have painted fruit
T Dear	--
Gerald Delaney [b 1933] 1948-1954 and 1971-1973	known to have painted fruit
Dorothy Doughty
J Draper example of signature 1960s-
Sheila Duffield [ S D/field ] [b1958] example of full signature example of short signature 1975-
D Duggan example of signature 1960s-
Pamela (Pat) Dunkley [b 1945] example of signature 1973-1983 - one of the last four painters BUY THE HIGHLIGHTED THIMBLE click on the photo to find out more

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Christine Erdman [ E ] [b 1950] example of signature 1965-
Yvonne Evans 1960s-	--

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

A Faid example of signature
C Farmer
S Field	--
J Flet example of signature
Flohn
A Footman example of signature 1960s-
D Fratt or D Pratt example of signature 1960s-
John Fuller [b 1940] 1955-

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Giorann Garcia example of signature example of signature - married name Giorann Henshaw 1970s
J Gart	--
A Gau [ AG ] 1960s-
S Gegg	--
M Gibson 1960s-
Gierdman	known to have painted fruit
Ron Godfrey example of signature 1932-1939	1937
P Gough ca.1960
B Gram	--
Freda Griffiths [b 1931] 1946-1971 - forewoman of lady paintresses	known to have painted flowers
Lybbe Griffiths [ L Griff ] example of signature -1976
C Gull	--

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Carolyn Hammond - maiden name Carolyn Bullock	--
P Hardy example of signature 1960s-
Wyn Harris [ Z ] or [ 7 ] [b 1933] -1956 and 1967-	--
M Hatch example of signature
D Hatchett	known to have painted flowers
H J Hemming	--
Giorann Henshaw example of signature - maiden name Giorann Garcia left in 1980
F Herd	--
Frank Higgins [b 1940] 1957-1972	known to have painted fruit
B Hill 1954	known to have painted birds
M Hillet	--
A Hinitt example of signature 1960s-
J Hodge [ J Hodg ] example of signature
J Hogg	--
A Holian example of signature 1960s-
E Holloway	--
G Holloway example of signature
Melvyn Holloway [b 1940] example of signature 1955-1971	1954
R Homer example of signature
Carole Hughes [ C Hugh ] [b 1948] example of signature 1960s-
N H Hull 1960s-
Kevin Hunt [b 1955] 1971-	--
Mildred (Millie) Hunt - married name Mildred (Millie) Johns - painted between the two world wars
John Hussey ca.1950	1955

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Mary Igoe [b 1956] example of signature 1971-
Susan Innis example of signature 1977-

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

J Jeynes	known to have painted flowers
Mildred (Millie) Johns - maiden name Mildred (Millie) Hunt - painted between the two world wars
George B Johnson [b 1859] 1875-1931	known as a bird specialist
Yvonne Jones 1960s-	--

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Keever	known to have painted birds
M Ker	known to have painted birds
Doreen Knott -1962	--

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Jean Lawrence [ JL ] example of signature 1970-
Angela Lawson [b 1950] example of signature 1975-
Arthur C (Ocker) Lewis [b 1880] -1930	known to have painted birds / flowers
Richard (Ricky) Lewis	--
Helen Ligthert [sic] [b 1957] example of signature name should be Lightheart 1974-
Christine Lloyd - married name Christine Steadman 1964
Thomas (Tom) Greville Lockyer 1913-1935	known as a fruit specialist
J Longford [ JL'ford ] example of signature
C Lot	--
Peter Love ca.1950-1956	known to have painted fruit
D Lowe 1954	1954

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

H Manton [ H Man ] example of full signature example of short signature	1959
Pauline Margetts [b 1951] - maiden name Pauline Shephard
J L Marks example of signature
Carola Maslyn [ C Lyn ] ca.1960	--
Douglas Massey 1951	known to have painted fruit
Mona McHarg 1960s-	--
P Melley	--
Sandra Meredith example of signature 1960s-
Michelin (Micky) Miller 1944-55 apprentice to Kitty Blake	1951 1954 1954 1953/ 1954 1954 1951
Marie Milward -1971
Pauline Molloy 1960s-	known to have painted flowers / birds
Gillian Moody [ M ] [b 1944-] example of signature 1960s-
M Morris [b 1957] example of signature 1975-
S Morris example of signature 1960s-
George Mosley [ Moseley ] 1919-1939 - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)
Mandy Munslow example of signature 1970s-

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

J Nady example of signature
D Natchett	known to have painted flowers
I or J Nell example of signature
William Nicholls [b 1933] example of signature 1950-1972	1951
I Nodge	--
S Norris - see S Morris
Allan Norwood example of signature ca.1948-1955
Terry Nutt 1980s	--

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

P Oakley	--
Judy Oram [b 1946] example of signature 1971-
Judy Owen example of signature 1962- BUY THE HIGHLIGHTED THIMBLE click on the photo to find out more

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Charles Palmere 1867-1880	known to have painted birds
Christine Parker [ C Park ] [b 1953] example of full signature example of short signature 1971-1983 - one of the last four thimble painters
T Parr example of signature 1960s-
Diane Perry [b 1947] example of signature 1962-
Ernest John Phillips 1890-1932	known as a fine flower painter
M Phips 1955-	known to have painted fruit
Peter Platt [b 1935] example of signature 1951- - nickname 'Sam' or 'Abdul' was sometimes signed on his thimbles as a joke by apprentices - London Thimble Society commissioned thimbles painted by this artist
M J Pledger - I have seen this painter on thimbles issued by TCC [Renaissance and Oakley]	known to have painted birds
L Port
H Pounds 1970
A Powell [ A Pow ] example of signature 1960s-	1961
J Powell example of signature 1960s-
Michael Powell [b 1945] 1966-	--
William Powell [ Willy Powell ] [b 1878] example of signature 1900-1950 - hunchback and dwarf	1937 1936 1931 1935 c.1910 1929 1941 1935 1932 1933 1937
D Pratt - see D Fratt
Linda Preece - married name Linda Wilson
Horace Price [b1898] 1912-1965	known to have painted fruit / flowers

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

C Radburn	known to have painted fruit / flowers
P Ranler
J Rayner example of signature
Daisy Rea [ DR ] [b 1894] example of signature 1909-1980 - forewoman of lady paintresses
Pat Rigby [ 9 ] 1951-
J Right	known to have painted flowers
Susanne Roberts [ S Rob. ] [ Sue Roberts ] [b1955] example of short signature example of full signature - maiden name Susanne Waldron 1967-1980s - one of the last two painters in the 1980s
Joan Ross example of signature 1965-
M Rouge 1950s	1956
Fiona Round example of signature - married name Fiona Bakewell 1973-
P Roze example of signature 1950s	1957 1956
S Rutter	--

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

' Sam ' - Peter Platt's nickname
S Sands example of signature
Eveline Sedgely [b 1909] - pseudonym ' Willis ' used when ladies not allowed to sign their own name 1924-1971	known to have painted flowers
S Selby example of signature 1960s-
Filippa Serra example of signature 1960s-
Pauline Shephard [ P Sheph ] example of signature - married name Pauline Margetts 1967-
James Sheriff
Albert Shuck -1961
Christopher Smith	--
F Smith example of signature	1955
John Smith 1950-1971	known to have painted fruit / berries
Lorraine Smith [ LS ] [b 1942] example of signature 1956-
Dorothy Sparks [ Sparkes ] [b 1935] example of signature 1951-1980s - one of the last two painters
Ethel Spilsbury 1910-1947/8	known to have painted flowers
Jack Stanley [b 1905] 1919-1933 - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	--
Christine Steadman 1965-1966 - maiden name Christine Lloyd	--
Fay Stephens [ FS ] 1949-	--
Stinton 1941 - could be any one of eight members of this family who painted for Royal Worcester
K Stott	known to have painted birds
Frederick N Sutton ca.1880	--
M Sutton example of signature 1960s-

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

J Tak	--
Gertie Taunt 1910-	--
Angela Taylor 1960s-	--
L Taylor 1959-	1959 1964 1960
Edward (Ted) Townsend [b1904] 1918-1942 and 1947-1971 - foreman of men painters - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	known to have painted fruit / birds
Charles Twilton 1918-1930 - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	--
Miss Twinberrow [ Twin ] 1915-1921	known to have painted roses

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Julia Vass [ J Vaas ] [b 1954] example of signature 1971-
Judy Vickers [ V ] [b 1946] 1965-	--

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Beverley Waldo 1977-	--
Rosemary Waldron [ R ] [b 1951] example of signature 1967- - sister Susanne
Susanne Waldron [b 1955] example of signature - married name Susanne Roberts 1971- - sister Rosemary BUY THE HIGHLIGHTED THIMBLE click on the photo to find out more
B Walter example of signature 1960s-
V Ward
F B Well see Fiona Bakewell
Suzanne Whitcombe - paints now for Dunheved	--
S White	--
Christopher Whitford [b 1952] 1971-	--
D Wild example of signature 1950s	1951 1951
Helen Williams [b 1949] 1975-	known to have painted flowers
' Willis ' - pseudonym used by Eveline Sedgely
M Wills example of signature
Derek Wilson example of signature 1930-1954 - paints now for Dunheved	1954 1954 1954 1952
Linda Wilson example of signature - maiden name Linda Preece 1960s-
M Wilson example of signature 1950s	1954 1951
C Wood example of signature
T Wood	known to have painted birds
Y Wood example of signature 1960s-

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

Dating your Royal Worcester Thimbles

The early blush, biscuit or translucent thimbles of the late 19th century have no signatures or marks. Up to the 1880s, later painters cannot surpass the fine painting. The exception is William Powell's exquisite bird studies.

Royal Worcester thimbles with a puce or purple backstamp date from late nineteenth century to 1963 and are signed by the painters. The dating of these thimbles can be calculated from 1891 by a series of dots and/or symbols. The table can be found in Thimble Society of London, winter 1997, p5. (reproduced below)

Thimbles with the black Royal Worcester backstamp date from 1964 onwards. Though the thimbles are still signed, it is not possible to date these thimbles.

Royal Worcester produced hand-painted thimbles until 1986. Those Royal Worcester thimbles currently in production are decaled thimbles.

Royal Worcester Porcelain Backstamps (1862 - 1963)
Reproduced from Thimble Society of London, winter 1997, p5.

The Royal Worcester Porcelain Co., Ltd. was formed as a Joint Stock Company in 1862 and since that time pieces have been marked with some type of date code.
The standard backstamp, illustrated here, includes the number 51 in the centre which refers to the year 1751 when the Worcester Porcelain Company was founded by Dr. John Wall.

1862
Between 1862 and 1867 specific indications of the year of manufacture are rare but may sometime be found in the form of the last two figures of the date, e.g. 64 for 1864, printed below the standard mark.

1876
From 1876 a letter system was used to indicate the year of manufacture. From 1876 the crown sits down in to the circle.

A = 1867 K = 1875 U = 1883

B = 1868 L = 1876 V = 1884

C = 1869 M = 1877 W = 1885

D = 1870 N = 1878 X = 1886

E = 1871 P = 1879 Y = 1887

G = 1872 R = 1880 Z = 1888

H = 1873 S = 1881 O = 1889

I = 1874 T = 1882 a = 1890

1892
From 1891 pieces were coded with a system of dots and/or symbols below the standard mark.
1891 'Royal Worcester England' added
1892 One dot
1893 Two dots
1894 Three dots
continued until 1915 when 24 dots are arranged around the standard mark.

1916 1916 * below the backstamp
1917 * and one dot
1918 * and two dots
continued until 1927 when 11 dots are arranged around the standard mark.

1928 1928 ϑ and the words "made in england" ;
[these words have been noted on Worcester thimbles from 1926 - added by Sue Gowan]
1929 ◊
1930 ÷
1931 ºº
1932 ººº
1933 ººº ·
1934 · ººº ·
continued until 1941 when there were 9 dots and the triple circle mark

1956
1959 1942-48 no dating system used
1949 V
1950 W
1951 W ·
1952 · W ·
1953 · W ··
continued until 1963 when 13 dots are arranged around the standard mark. After 1956 the letter W was nearly almost always substituted with a letter R in a circle, i.e. 1960 R or W under the circle with dots
Notice that there are differences in the actual backstamp wording for this era, as per this 1959 example

1964 - No dating system for all items made after 1964

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DO YOU KNOW ANY MORE DETAILS ABOUT ANY OF THE THIMBLES LISTED ABOVE?
DO YOU HAVE ANY ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS POSED?
DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS OF OTHER HAND PAINTED ROYAL WORCESTER THIMBLES?
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER ROYAL WORCESTER THIMBLE PAINTERS?
EMAIL thimbleselect@bigpond.com TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

For more information on Royal Worcester, visit ...

www.royal-worcester.co.uk

References
John von Hoelle - Thimble collector's encyclopedia. 3rd ed. - 1986
Henry Sandon - Royal Worcester porcelain - 1972
Christie's South Kensington - Thimbles & needlework accessories (auction catalogue) - Dec 1997
Phillips Auctioneers - Sylvia Groves' collection (auction catalogue) - Dec 1999
Phillips Auctioneers - Fine antique sewing boxes, thimbles,... (auction catalogue) - Dec 1998
Joanna Waciorski's website - www.sewmanybits.co.uk
Thimble Society of London
Royal Worcester thimble artists - Thimbletter - vol 7, issue 3, May-June 1980
The Royal Worcester story - Collector Circle Gazette - vol VI, no 3 - winter 1981/82
Het Vingerhoedje - vol 4 no 1
Dorset Thimble Society - Royal Worcester thimble painters. May 1991

Contributors
Clarice Birch, Sue Burt, Jonathan P Broad, Sheila C, Tony Charman, Sue Christensen, Linda Day, Val de Vries, Diana, Joy Earles
Kit Froebel, Joan Gale, Giorann Henshaw, Margaret Hickling, Sondra Hirsch, John Houghton, Gloria Hudson, Judith, Gladys Junge
David Mayne, Jan Neville, Elizabeth Nevin, Ro Olbricht, David Pantland, Moyra Peckston, Di Pelham Burn, Judy Pollitt
Rhoda, Wolf-Dieter Scholz, Irene Schwall, Norma Shattock, Edna Skarratt, Kate Smith, Tom Suttie
Amanda [Spilsbury] Taylor, Audrey Turner, Kate Twomey, Hans Vogel, Joanna Waciorski, Rosalie Webb, Mave Wiskin and Jenny Yuhas

This listing of Royal Worcester thimble painters does not purport to be complete or accurate in all aspects. Rather it invites comment and contribution to add to our knowledge of these highly prized handpainted thimbles. My thanks to all the contributors for sharing their knowledge and photos.

Enjoy!

THERE ARE 21 PAGES OF THIMBLES & OTHER ITEMS TO BUY
aluminium 1 - books 1 - brass 1 - china 6 - display cases 1
gold 1 - needlework tools 2 - other collectables 1 - pewter 1 - plastic 1
silver 3 - steel & metal 1 - unusual materials 1 - wood 1

Any questions or comments?
thimbleselect@bigpond.com

Last updated 19 August 2008
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