Fine porcelain china collectible thimble from the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California featuring a drawing of the Hearst Castle in a wedgewood blue color on a white porcelain china thimble. (c. 1990)
In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner, purchased 40,000-acres of ranch-land that included the Mexican Ranchos of Piedras Blancas, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown to encompass 250,000 acres.
Originally known as "Camp Hill," its wilderness offered a place for family members and friends to "rough it" on camping trips. Despite elaborate arrangements with separate sleeping and dining tents, Hearst envisioned more comfortable accommodations. His simple instructions to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan in 1919: "Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something".
Hearst and Morgan's collaboration was destined to become one of the world's greatest showplaces. As they were planning and constructing his dream home, Hearst renamed the rocky perch from which it rose "La Cuesta Encantada" - The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst and Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways.
The estate's magnificent main house, "Casa Grande," and three guest houses are of Mediterranean Revival style, while the imposing towers of Casa Grande were inspired by a Spanish cathedral. The blending of the architectural style with the surrounding land, and Hearst's superb European and Mediterranean art collection, was so seamless that world-renowned architectural historian, Lord John Julius Norwich, was moved to say that "Hearst Castle is a palace in every sense of the word." http://www.hearstcastle.com/
This fine porcelain china collectible sewing thimble measures 1.25" high and is 1" in diameter at the base. There is one tiny chip to the right side of the front design (about the size of a pin head). This thimble would be a fine addition to your thimble collection - it's a nice souvenir thimble of California memorabilia.
A1363 - Porcelain China Collectible Thimble HEARST CASTLE, SAN SIMEON, CA
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