VERY ORNAMENTAL THIMBLES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1716, 18 January 1905, Page 24

VERY ORNAMENTAL THIMBLES

Ladies of high class in China use the daintest thimbles imaginable, some ot them being carved from enormous pearls, ornamented with hands of fine gold, on which all manner of quaint and fantastic design© are engraved. A mother-of-pearl case is always made to keep the thimble in, and with it the Chinese lady ha© a pair of delicate scissors uf finest steel, inclosed in a sheath of mother-of-pearl, with, a needle-caee to match. The Queen of Siam owns a thimble which was a present from her royal husband. It Is made in the shape of a lotus band, of the finest gold, and is studded with diamonds, which are so arranged that they form her name and the date of her marriage.