Clothing hooks and eye fasteners were a popular decorative accessory during the Medieval and Tudor period. They were both useful and decorative, used to hold together garments, to drape up skirts or to simply be used for decorative purposes. Hooks would prevent skirts from getting dirty when outside or were used to display rich fabrics from underneath. These beautiful accessories were also used to fasten collars and gowns without disrupting the patterns featured on the clothing. The rich ornament of the fasteners themselves hints to the preciousness of the garments on which they were attached.
Tudor Silver Heart-Shaped Dress Hook
£ 395.00
An elaborate silver Tudor-period dress hook, featuring a heart-shaped cushion with a cusped backplate. The heart-shaped cushion is decorated with filigree circlets, forming three quatrefoil motifs with central pellets within larger circles. It is further embellished with an additional three pellets and four small circlets in between the larger circles. To the reverse is a rectangular loop soldered to the top and a sharp bronze hook attached to the bottom. The loop would have been used to attach to clothing and the hook used to hoist up excess material or re-arrange fabric.
Provenance: From a private Wiltshire jewellery collection; acquired on the UK art market between 1979 and 1996; from a 1970s collection.
Condition: Fine condition. Hook has been repaired and trace of gilt can be seen.
| Weight | 10.9 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | L 3.9 x W 2.5 cm |
| Metal | Silver |
| Region | Western Europe |
Reference: For a similar item, see The British Museum, item 2001,0503.1
