A gold thimble attributed to the great goldsmith and revolutionary hero Paul Revere has been consigned to auction as part of next month's Ann Blakeslee Black Collection of Thimbles, Needlework, Tools & Vertu sale.
 Paul Revere was the famous goldsmith who alerted the colonial forces to the arrival of English troops at the outset of the American revolutionary war |
The thimble is one of only three colonial-era Massachusetts examples known, and is the only such piece in private hands, earning it an $8,000-12,000 estimate with Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on May 21.
 Not intended for practical use, the thimbles were a display of Meissen's impressive craftsmanship |
The collection was formed by Ann Blakeslee Black in around 1961, as she travelled across the world in search of the finest examples. Contacting museums for advice, she acquired some of the best needleworking tools and objects known, including a selection of American, English and continental thimbles.
Also starring in the sale are 29 rare Meissen porcelain thimbles, of which only 250 are known to exist today. Not intended for practical use, but rather prized for their beauty and the extraordinary detail of their decoration, the lead lot among the Meissen offerings is valued at $5,000-7,000.
Also valued at $5,000-7,000 is a George II needle case, depicting a heavily jewelled Nubian woman with a diamond necklace and pearl drop earrings.
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