Christmas at the market

Happy holidays. The Portobello Antiques Market is open this Saturday the 26th of December. I will be there and many other stands will be open. We take in sherry [dry] mince pies and Xmas cake. Collectors and dealers will be welcome. It has been a difficult year, especially in the summer. I think we had fewer overseas visitors.

Regarding the Train thimble, so called because it shows a train pulling carriages, made cir 1837. Note the word ‘carriages’ used by this new novelty called a train, it was employed because a horse drawn carriage was the nearest form of public transport known. So the passenger seating was known as carriages. The first souvenir thimble was made in brass but as the train’s popularity grew so did a demand for a souvenir thimble made in silver. A silver version was produced in approximately 1840. The mould and design was sent to be manufactured in Paris which is why some of the silver versions have a French shape. They seem to have been made in three sizes. Normal adult size, child’s size and a rare doll’s size.