A piece of 17thCentury treasure found by a local metal detectorist has gone on display at the Museum of Cardiff.
The rare silver thimble, which is believed to have been intended as a romantic gift due to the inscription around its base which reads ‘I AM YOVRS’ (I am yours) was found buried in Pentyrch, 18cm below the ground.
Museum Manager, Alison Tallontire, said: “This is the first piece of treasure to ever go on display at the Museum, so it’s really exciting for us.
“These thimbles were once commonly-owned by members of the upper-class nobility, but they’re now a rare find as many of them were donated by female supporters of the Parliamentarians during the English Civil Wars of 1642 – 1652 so they could be melted down to reuse the silver.”
The treasure, found by metal detectorist Peter Morgan in 2017, was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme Wales (PAS Cymru) and it was declared ‘treasure’ by the Assistant Coroner for South Wales Central, Mr Nadim Bashir in 2019.
The Museum of Cardiff subsequently acquired the thimble through theSaving Treasures; Telling StoriesPartnership Project (2015-2020) led by Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales and funded via theCollecting Culturesprogramme of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The thimble now forms part of the museum’s ‘Early Cardiff’ display, alongside other archaeological finds that pre-date 1794, and expands the story the museum tells of early Cardiff.
The thimble can be viewed in the ‘Early Cardiff’ section of the Museum of Cardiff’s ‘Cardiff in Context’ gallery, open every day 10am – 4pm.
